TY - JOUR

T1 - Understanding idiopathic intracranial hypertension

T2 - mechanisms, management, and future directions

AU - Markey, Keira A

AU - Mollan, Susan P

AU - Jensen, Rigmor H

AU - Sinclair, Alexandra J

N1 - Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PY - 2016/1

Y1 - 2016/1

N2 - Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is a disorder characterised by raised intracranial pressure that predominantly affects young, obese women. Pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated, but several causal factors have been proposed. Symptoms can include headaches, visual loss, pulsatile tinnitus, and back and neck pain, but the clinical presentation is highly variable. Although few studies have been done to support evidence-based management, several recent advances have the potential to enhance understanding of the causes of the disease and to guide treatment decisions. Investigators of the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial (IIHTT) reported beneficial effects of acetazolamide in patients with mild visual loss. Studies have also established weight loss as an effective disease-modifying treatment, and further clinical trials to investigate new treatments are underway. The incidence of idiopathic intracranial hypertension is expected to increase as rates of obesity increase; efforts to reduce diagnostic delays and identify new, effective approaches to treatment will be key to meeting the needs of a growing number of patients.

AB - Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is a disorder characterised by raised intracranial pressure that predominantly affects young, obese women. Pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated, but several causal factors have been proposed. Symptoms can include headaches, visual loss, pulsatile tinnitus, and back and neck pain, but the clinical presentation is highly variable. Although few studies have been done to support evidence-based management, several recent advances have the potential to enhance understanding of the causes of the disease and to guide treatment decisions. Investigators of the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial (IIHTT) reported beneficial effects of acetazolamide in patients with mild visual loss. Studies have also established weight loss as an effective disease-modifying treatment, and further clinical trials to investigate new treatments are underway. The incidence of idiopathic intracranial hypertension is expected to increase as rates of obesity increase; efforts to reduce diagnostic delays and identify new, effective approaches to treatment will be key to meeting the needs of a growing number of patients.

KW - Animals

KW - Comprehension

KW - Disease Management

KW - Forecasting

KW - Humans

KW - Intracranial Hypertension

KW - Obesity

KW - Pseudotumor Cerebri

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

KW - Review

U2 - 10.1016/S1474-4422(15)00298-7

DO - 10.1016/S1474-4422(15)00298-7

M3 - Review

C2 - 26700907

VL - 15

SP - 78

EP - 91

JO - The Lancet Neurology

JF - The Lancet Neurology

SN - 1474-4422

IS - 1

ER -