Pseudotumour Cerebri Syndrome and Levofloxacin Therapy: A Case Report

Abstract

Many drugs, including quinolone antibiotics, have been implicated in the aetiology of pseudotumour cerebri. We here report the case of an 18-year-old male of high body mass index who developed pseudotumour cerebri after treatment with oral levofloxacin for broncho-pneumonia. After 5 days of treatment, his general condition improved but he started to complain of headache, intermittent vomiting, tinnitus in the left ear, blurred vision, photophobia, and intermittent horizontal diplopia. The fundus oculi examination revealed bilateral papilloedema. All the symptoms resolved within 2 weeks after levofloxacin withdrawal. This case raises the possibility that quinolone antibiotics can cause pseudotumour cerebri.

KEYWORDS::

• headache
• levofloxacin
• papilloedema
• pseudotumour cerebri

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The present study was financially supported in part by the University of Bologna (ECC-MIUR ex-60%), in part by a grant from the “Fondazione Banca del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna” and in part by a grant from the “Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Bologna”.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.