Emergent cerebral venous stenting: A valid treatment option for fulminant idiopathic intracranial hypertension

J Neurol Sci. 2023 Sep 15:452:120761. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2023.120761. Epub 2023 Aug 2.

Abstract

Background: Fulminant idiopathic intracranial hypertension (FIIH) is characterized by rapid, severe, progressive vision loss and often treated surgically. Cerebral transverse venous stenting (CTVS) is efficacious in IIH patients, but emergent CTVS in FIIH is rarely reported. We present our experience with emergent CTVS in patients with FIIH.

Methods: Since 01/2019, an institutional protocol allowed emergent CTVS in FIIH patients with bilateral transverse sinus stenosis and gradient pressure > 15 on digital subtraction angiography (DSA). We retrospectively analyzed a prospective registry of all IIH patients with details of neurological and neuro-ophthalmological assessments before and after treatment, and subjective assessments of headache and tinnitus were made pre-and post-procedure.

Results: 259 IIH patients, including 49 who underwent CTVS, were registered. Among them, five female patients met inclusion criteria for FIIH and underwent emergent CTVS. FIIH patients were younger (18.8 ± 1.64 vs 27.7 ± 4.85, p < 0.01), mean BMI was lower (30.8 ± 10.57 vs 34.6 ± 4.3, p < 0.01), and lumbar puncture opening pressure higher (454 ± vs 361 ± 99.4, p < 0.01) than that of IIH patients. They presented with acute visual loss, severe headache, papilledema, significant bilateral transverse sinus stenosis on CT-venography, and mean dominant side gradient pressure of 26.4 ± 6.2 on DSA. CTVS was performed without significant complications, resulting in remarkable improvement in headache, optical coherence tomography, and visual fields within 1 week. At 1-year follow-up (four patients) and 6-month follow-up (1 patient), there was complete resolution of papilledema and headache, and marked improvement in visual acuity.

Conclusions: In these patients, emergent-CTVS was a safe and effective treatment option for FIIH. Further evaluation is warranted.

Keywords: Cerebral venous stenting; Fulminant idiopathic intracranial hypertension; Headache; Papilledema; Rapid visual deterioration.

MeSH terms

  • Constriction, Pathologic / complications
  • Cranial Sinuses
  • Female
  • Headache / etiology
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Hypertension* / diagnostic imaging
  • Intracranial Hypertension* / etiology
  • Intracranial Hypertension* / surgery
  • Papilledema* / diagnostic imaging
  • Papilledema* / etiology
  • Papilledema* / surgery
  • Pseudotumor Cerebri* / complications
  • Pseudotumor Cerebri* / diagnostic imaging
  • Pseudotumor Cerebri* / surgery
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Stents / adverse effects
  • Vision Disorders / complications