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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Info on Pseudotumor Cerebri
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury.
Info on Pseudotumor Cerebri
by Stacy__0__0, Oct 15, 1998 12:00AM
I am a 31 year old female who was just recently diagnosed with this disorder after a eye exam noted that my optic nerve was swollen. I have seen a neuro-opthamalogist who did field vision tests and said that I had black spots in im peripheral vision. he sent me to a neurologist for a further exam (MRI-which was normal) and a spinal tap to see what the pressure is. the neurologist decided against the tap and suggested Diamox. ( i also had other things like headache,temporary losses of vision) Well with the diamox the headaches have gone away almost totally but I have lots of side effects from the med such as tingling in my hands and feet but i can live with the side effects if it means preserving my vision. My question is: When I was a child (3 months of age) I had bacterial meningitis and was very sick, can having meningitis cause the increase of spinal fluid pressure? And also, do you think I should get a spinal tap to see what the pressure is or since the Diamox is working so far then it is not needed? I was just thinking it was routine to get a spinal tap done. thanks......
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Thanks for your question. Acetazolimide (Diamox) is the treatment of choice
for pseudotumor cerebri (PTC), and it is gratifying to see that you are achieving
significant symptomatic improvement from the treatment. One of the possible
explanations for PTC is an imbalance between production and reabsorption of
Cerebro-Spinal Fluid (CSF), hence the increased pressure in the ventricular
system. A past history of inflammatory process in the meninges (such as
bacterial meningitis) could have caused an impairment in the reabsorptive
capacity of the arachnoid vilae, where the reabsorption of CSF occurs.
A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) is frequently used for the diagnosis of PTC -
the "opening pressure" is higher than normal individuals -, and sometimes
also used therapeutically (removal of CSF can lead to improvement of headaches
and other neurological symptoms). You should discuss with your neurologist
the actual necessity of a spinal tap since the treatment appears to be in
the right track.
I hope this information is helpful. Best of luck.
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.
Please consult your doctor regarding diagnostic and treatment options.
