Korean J Hematol.  1999 Feb;34(1):131-136.

A Case of Benign Intracranial Hypertension (Pseudotumor cerebri) Associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

• Ahn HS
• Lim CS
• Lee SO
• Kwak JY
• Yim CY

Abstract

Benign intracranial hypertension (BIH) is very rare and its cause is unclear. Raised intracranial pressure in the absence of an intracranial mass or hydrocephalus (BIH or pseudotumor cerebri) has been described in association with many conditions including SLE. Several pathogenic pathways tie BIH with SLE as thrombotic obliteration of cerebral arteriolar and venous systems and immune complex deposition within the arachnoid villi that are responsible for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) absorption. The diagnosis of BIH was confirmed by increased intracranial pressure in the absence of any abnormal radiological findings of the brain. We report a young woman with SLE and autoimmune thrombocytopenia complicated by BIH which resolved with corticosteroid therapy and osmotic diuretics.

Keyword

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE); Benign Intracranial Hypertension (BIH)

MeSH Terms

Absorption
Antigen-Antibody Complex
Arachnoid
Brain
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Diagnosis
Diuretics, Osmotic
Female
Humans
Hydrocephalus
Intracranial Pressure
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic*
Pseudotumor Cerebri*
Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic
Antigen-Antibody Complex
Diuretics, Osmotic