Persistent headache in a young kidney transplant recipient caused by tacrolimus associated pseudotumor cerebri - A case report

Abstract

Pseudotumor cerebri (PC) is characterized by chronic elevation of intracranial pressure with normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination and normal neuro-imaging. We report a case of a 22-year-old female with renal allograft and for the past 4 years on immunosuppressant including prednisolone, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil. The patient presented with persistent headache for 2 months along with nausea and vomiting. Fundoscopic examination revealed bilateral papilledema. Magnetic resonance imaging-brain with venogram was normal and cytochemical examination of CSF was also normal. Ocular coherence tomography revealed increased retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. A diagnosis of PC was made based on an elevated CSF pressure (35 cm H20). We reduced the dose of tacrolimus and added acetazolamide but the dose of prednisolone and mycophenolate mofetil was not modified. There was the gradual improvement of symptoms. On follow-up visits, papilledema disappeared and the patient is now asymptomatic with normal allograft function.

Keywords

• headache
• intracranial hypertension
• kidney transplant
• pseudotumor cerebri
• tacrolimus