Postpartum intracranial hypotension complicated by posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: a case report

Abstract

Purpose: To present an unusual case of posterior encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) preceded by intracranial hypotension.

Materials and Methods: We present a case of a 27-year-old parturient with an uneventful pregnancy that shortly after labor developed a persistent headache with characteristics compatible with intracranial hypotension. The patient had undergone epidural anesthesia for caesarian section. 

Results: The symptomatology of intracranial hypotension was attributed to inadvertent dural puncture during epidural anesthesia. The MRI revealed multiple white matter lesions located in frontal, temporal and parietal regions of both hemispheres. The type of lesions was suggestive of PRES. Pachymeningeal enhancement was also observed. The patient was managed conservatively. The symptoms improved gradually and the imaging findings resolved completely. 

Conclusions: This case demonstrates the need for clinical alertness for PRES in patients with prolonged and possibly atypical symptoms of intracranial hypotension. As probable causal relationship between these disorders we propose a sympathetic over-activation as a result of cerebrospinal fluid leakage leading to vasospasm and manifestation of PRES. 

Keywords:

• Headache
• intracranial hypotension
• posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Informed consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report.