Evaluation of the Current Treatment Methods of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is caused by an elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP). The condition mainly affects obese young women of childbearing age.

In a recent study in the United Kingdom University of Kentucky urokinase, the estimated annual incidence was 4.7 % which represents a growth of 108% in 14 years, and parallels the growth of obesity prevalence .

The combination of raised intracranial pressure, without hydrocephalus or mass lesion, normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) composition and where no underlying aetiology is found are accepted criteria for the diagnosis of IIH.

The two most prominent symptoms of IIH are progressive visual deterioration and chronic headache, although additional symptoms including cranial nerve palsies, cognitive deficits, tinnitus and olfactory dysfunction are frequently also part of the clinical presentation. While the visual dysfunction is known to largely result from a pressure-induced papilledema, the origin of the IIH-related headache is less clear and therapeutic approaches are less investigated.

The conventional treatment for IIH involves weight loss, steroids, diuretics, and serial lumbar punctures and surgical treatment.