Patología del líquido cefalorraquídeo. Hidrocefalia, pseudotumor cerebral y síndrome de presión baja

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathology refers to primary abnormalities of the CSF and its circulation. Hydrocephalus is the pathological increase in the size of the cerebral ventricles due to an increase in CSF, the result of an imbalance between formation (normally constant) and drainage, due to defects in reabsorption or circulation; hydrocephalus is thus classified as communicating or noncommunicating. Hydrocephalus can occur in children (the majority congenital) and adults. A special type of chronic hydrocephalus in adults is normal pressure hydrocephalus and its famous Hakim-Adams triad. Pseudotumor cerebri and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) are characterized by symptoms of intracranial hypertension (IH) with elevation of CSF opening pressure; the main problem is potential vision loss. Intracranial hypotension syndrome is caused by leakage of CSF through the thecal sac, frequently after a lumbar puncture. It is normally characterized by orthostatic headache, decreased CSF pressure, and meningeal uptake on magnetic resonance imaging tests.