An idiopathic disorder characterized by chronic increase in the intracranial pressure. It occurs predominantly in obese females of childbearing age. It is associated with papilledema.
Symptoms of Benign Intracranial Hypertension
The following features are indicative of Benign Intracranial Hypertension:
headache
nausea
vomiting
pain in neck and shoulders
pulsatile tinnitus
whooshing sensation in one or both ears
numbness of the extremities
generalized weakness
loss of smell
loss of coordination
weakness of the muscles of facial expression on one or both sides of the face
episodes of difficulty seeing that occur in both eyes
visual loss
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Common Causes of Benign Intracranial Hypertension
The following are the most common causes of Benign Intracranial Hypertension:
medications such as high-dose vitamin A derivatives
long-term tetracycline antibiotics
hormonal contraceptives
obstructive sleep apnea
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
chronic kidney disease
Other Causes of Benign Intracranial Hypertension
The following are the less common causes of Benign Intracranial Hypertension:
Behcet's disease
Risk Factors for Benign Intracranial Hypertension
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Benign Intracranial Hypertension:
overweight
long-term use of tetracycline antibiotics
Prevention of Benign Intracranial Hypertension
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Benign Intracranial Hypertension. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
eliminate excessive vitamin A or tetracyclines
begin a low sodium weight reduction diet
Occurrence of Benign Intracranial Hypertension
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Benign Intracranial Hypertension cases seen each year worldwide:
Extremely rare less than 1000 cases
Common Age Group
Benign Intracranial Hypertension can occur at any age.
Common Gender
Benign Intracranial Hypertension can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Benign Intracranial Hypertension
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Benign Intracranial Hypertension:
Computed tomography: To obtain the images of the brain
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): To conduct neuroimaging
Magnetic resonance (MR) venogram: To exclude the possibility of venous sinus stenosis or obstruction or cerebral venous sinus thrombosis
Lumbar puncture: To measure the opening pressure as well as to obtain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to exclude alternative diagnoses
Doctor for Diagnosis of Benign Intracranial Hypertension
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Benign Intracranial Hypertension:
Neurologist
Ophthalmologist
Neurointerventionalist
Complications of Benign Intracranial Hypertension if untreated
Yes, Benign Intracranial Hypertension causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Benign Intracranial Hypertension is left untreated:
vision loss
Procedures for Treatment of Benign Intracranial Hypertension
The following procedures are used to treat Benign Intracranial Hypertension:
Lumbar puncture: To control the symptoms and drain the cerebrospinal fluid
Venous sinus stenting: To conduct stenting of transverse sinus
Optic nerve sheath fenestration: To treat intracranial hypertension
Shunt surgery: To control the symptoms of intracranial hypertension
Self-care for Benign Intracranial Hypertension
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Benign Intracranial Hypertension:
maintain healthy weight: Helps person to prevent being obese
Patient Support for Treatment of Benign Intracranial Hypertension
The following actions may help Benign Intracranial Hypertension patients:
Join support groups: Join online supporting organizations that helps providing support to patients
Time for Treatment of Benign Intracranial Hypertension
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Benign Intracranial Hypertension to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision: