Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) following cannabis consumption: A rare association

Abstract

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical-radiological syndrome that combines nonspecific neurological manifestations, sometimes severe (coma, status epilepticus), with typical brain imaging showing mostly bilateral, symmetrical abnormalities, predominantly affecting the white matter. Termed ''reversible,'' the norm is a return to the previous neurological state. However, this recovery is not always guaranteed, with potential neurological sequelae or even progression to death. PRES has multiple etiologies. The primary etiology associated with PRES is substance consumption. However, cases of PRES following cannabis consumption are rare. Here, we present the case of a 27-year-old man admitted for the management of a feverless altered state of consciousness, whose investigations eventually revealed PRES due to cannabis consumption.

Keywords

• Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome
• Cannabis
• Altered consciousness
• Magnetic resonance imaging
• Psychoactive substance use