Recurrent Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome Research Articles

A case of recurrent posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome

Purpose: To report a case of recurrent posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) after post-partum eclampsia. Case Report: A 22-year-old woman, para 3+0, presented with headaches, decrease level of consciousness, and convulsions after home delivery. Her second delivery was an emergency cesarean section due to eclampsia with PRES at 30 weeks of gestation. On examination she was unconscious with blood pressure of 220/120. She was intubated and transferred to the intensive care unit. Computer tomography scans confirmed the diagnosis of recurrent PRES. She recovered completely with supportive treatment and was discharged home one week after admission. Conclusion: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome may recur in a subsequent pregnancy.

Epileptic Ictal Hyperperfusion on Arterial Spin Labeling Perfusion and Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Images in Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome

The hemodynamic state of the posterior dominant vasogenic edema in posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is controversial. The aim of this retrospective study was to examine the contribution of epileptic ictal hyperperfusion in patients with PRES using combined magnetic resonance perfusion imaging with arterial spin labeling (ASL) and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A detailed review of chronological MRI findings in 2 patients, including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and ASL, with special reference to clinical and electroencephalographic findings, was performed. At the onset of PRES, both patients developed secondary generalized seizures. At the first PRES episode in Case 1, ASL and DWI clearly depicted "ictal hyperperfusion" and prolonged epilepsy-induced cytotoxic edema in the left parieto-occipital lobe cortex, located around the vasogenic edema of the PRES lesion in the left occipital lobe (hypoperfused area). At the second and third episodes (2 and 7 months after the first episode, respectively), although recurrent PRES was ruled out, ASL and DWI clearly demonstrated ictal hyperperfusion in the left posterior temporal and parieto-occipital lobes associated with partial nonconvulsive status epilepticus, which developed around the PRES-related old hematoma lesion. In Case 2, peri-ictal MRI findings of ictal ASL hyperperfusion and cortical hyperintensity on DWI were also noted in the left parieto-occipital lobe, but were mild compared with Case 1. Combined use of DWI and ASL can provide information on hemodynamic state associated with epileptic ictal hyperperfusion in the various phases of PRES.

Occipital epilepsy following posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES)

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) can develop in association with a vast array of conditions including hypertensive encephalopathy and exposure to toxic agents. Clinical manifestations include seizures, headache, focal neurological deficits, visual disturbances and altered mental status and reversible radiological findings such as grey and white matter abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging. Recurrent PRES in conjunction with periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges on electroencephalogram has been associated with new-onset epilepsy. Here, we report a pediatric case with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis with recurrent episodes of PRES and focal occipital epilepsy. The reason for presenting this case is to show an atypical evolution of this disease, rarely described in children.

Recurrent posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome of the brainstem in a hypertensive patient with end-stage renal disease.

A 59-year-old man with end-stage renal disease was brought to our emergency department with complaints of headache, nausea, dysarthria, tic, and weakness involving the bilateral arms and legs. He had the similar episode 4 month before, when he was treated elsewhere. The patient had received hemodialysis three times per week. His medications included for hypertension. On examination at his arrival, he was alert with reduced concentration and incoherent thoughts. The blood pressure was 181/87 mmHg and other vital signs were normal. Neurological findings showed slight dysarthria and slow movements but no other abnormalities. Laboratory data showed increased serum creatinine and potassium presumably for a session of periodical hemodialysis but normal sodium concentration. His cerebrospinal fluid examination was normal. We treated him by hemodialysis. Diagnosis of PRES was most likely because of the clinical features and the MRI findings. His symptoms had disappeared immediately and completely after we controlled high blood pressure. MRI on 13 days after admission showed the improvement of the abnormal findings. Although the pathophysiology of PRES is incompletely understood, renal failure was known as one of the risk factors. A relative lack of sympathetic innervation of posterior circulation could not protect the area when severe hypertension makes auto-regulatory control collapsed. However, PRES of the brainstem is uncommon although the posterior circulation involves it. Because control of his hypertension was not appropriate in the outpatient settings before this event, it could have contributed to the recurrence in this patient.

Recurrent posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in nephrotic syndrome: case report and review of the literature

Sequential neuroimaging before and after seizures has not been reported in patients with nephrotic syndrome and recurrent posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). We report a 13-year-old nephrotic female patient with recurrent PRES during and after cessation of cyclosporine A (CyA). She had headache, visual disturbance and acute hypertension, followed by seizures. The brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before seizures revealed a high signal intensity area on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and diffusion-weighted images and a low signal intensity area on T1-weighted images in bilateral parieto-occipital and left temporal lobes. Cessation of CyA resulted in clinical improvement. The follow-up MRI 2 months after the initial episode showed a complete resolution. Six months later, she had similar symptoms, edema, severe hypoalbuminemia, renal insufficiency, and acute pancreatitis before seizures. The brain MRI after seizures showed similar abnormalities in the same regions, which completely resolved 2 months later. Recurrence of acute severe hypertension, nephrotic state (edema/ hypoalbuminemia), and renal insufficiency may lead to recurrent PRES and thus early treatment of trigger factors, especially of hypertension, is important to reduce the episodes of PRES.

Recurrent and atypical posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a child with hypertension

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical and radiologic entity with typical symptoms including headache, seizures, visual disturbance, altered mental status, vomiting, nausea and focal neurologic signs. In this article, we report recurrent and atypical PRES in a child with hypertension due to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who was on a peritoneal dialysis program for 6 months. After the second hypertension attack, PRES findings did not recover and persisted as encephalomalacia. As far as we know, this case is the first child with ESRD who developed encephalomalacia after recurrent episodes of PRES. When a patient with a history of PRES presented with new clinical and neuroradiological findings, recurrent PRES should be considered.

An Association between Bevacizumab and Recurrent Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in a Patient Presenting with Deep Vein Thrombosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Background. The posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a syndrome characterized by hypertension, headache, seizures, and visual disturbances. Causes of PRES include preeclampsia/eclampsia, hypertension, and recently bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor. There is no information to date about PRES recurrence in patients taking bevacizumab or descriptions of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the setting of PRES. We reviewed data on a patient receiving bevacizumab who presented with a DVT and PRES and later developed recurrent PRES. Case. A 72-year-old man with metastatic pulmonary adenocarcinoma received maintenance bevacizumab following six cycles of carboplatin and paclitaxel. Following his eighth dose of bevacizumab, he developed a DVT as well as PRES. He made a rapid recovery and was discharged from the hospital but went on to develop PRES recurrence nine days following his original episode. Conclusion. Several mechanisms exist whereby exposure to bevacizumab could be related to the development of both DVT and PRES by inducing global endothelial dysfunction. Recurrent PRES may result from bevacizumab's prolonged half-life (11–50 days) and suboptimal blood pressure control. In the setting of bevacizumab, PRES surveillance may play a similar role in preeclampsia screening as both diseases share similar antiangiogenic signaling pathways.

Recurrent Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome Potentially Related to AIDS and End-Stage Renal Disease: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinicoradiological syndrome that is characterized by clinical features including headache, altered mental status, cortical blindness, seizures, and other focal neurological signs as well as subcortical edema without infarction on neuroimaging. Under the umbrella of hypertensive encephalopathy, PRES is defined by reversible cerebral edema due to dysfunction of the cerebrovascular blood-brain barrier unit. The pathophysiology of PRES is thought to result from abnormalities in the transmembrane flow of intravascular fluid and proteins caused by two phenomena: one, cerebral autoregulatory failure and two, loss of integrity of the blood-brain barrier. PRES is not a common disease in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS with only three previously reported cases. Both the HIV and end-stage renal disease appear to further compromise the blood brain barrier. Although uncommon, PRES recurrence has been described. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating recurrent PRES in a HIV patient on hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease.

Recurrent posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in mitochondrial disorder

Objectives. Recurrent posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) has not been reported in association with multi-system mitochondrial disorder (MID). Case report. In a 60-year-old HIV-negative, Caucasian female with short stature, double vision, struma, memory impairment, chronic renal failure requiring hemodialysis, seizures, intermittent atrial fibrillation, arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia, anemia, hypacusis, tinnitus, and a daughter with multiple sclerosis, short stature and hypothyroidism; another daughter with schizophrenia, and a son who died from encephalopathy at age 3 months, an MID was suspected. At age 53 years, she experienced sudden, transient blindness for 2 days bilaterally during an episode of high blood pressure with complete recovery within 2 weeks. At age 60 years, a similar episode occurred. Four weeks later, she experienced a third PRES episode with high blood pressure, seizures, impaired consciousness and reversible blindness for 2 days. MRI at the second episode was indicative of a PRES, and MRI at the third episode additionally revealed occipital bleedings, acute embolic stroke and features indicating PRES. Conclusions. This case indicates that MID may be associated with recurrent PRES, triggered by recurrent episodes of high blood pressure. Whether high blood pressure was a manifestation of the MID or related to other causes remains speculative. PRES does not seem to be a primary but is rather a secondary manifestation of an MID.

Recurrent posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a patient with sickle cell disease

Recurrent posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a patient with sickle cell disease

"Recurrent" Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome

In a retrospective review, 3 (3.8%) of 78 patients developed recurrent posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. Underlying clinical conditions included sickle cell disease, antibody-positive autoimmune disease, and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Infection (bacterial/viral) was suspected or documented in both episodes in all 3 patients. Evidence of endothelial injury (schistocyte formation and increased lactate dehydrogenase) was documented in all patients, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome developed during the hospital course of all admissions.

Recurrent posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a patient with sickle cell disease

Recurrent posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a patient with sickle cell disease