Treatment
The aim of treatment is the relief of symptoms of raised intracranial pressure and the prevention of progressive optic nerve damage. (1,2)
If the patient is obese then weight reduction is advisable.
The intracranial pressure may be controlled by serial lumbar puncture.
Drugs which may be successful include acetazolamide (carbonic anhydrase inhibitor), thiazide diuretics, topiramate and corticosteroids.
Surgery should be considered if all other interventions fail. Lumboperitoneal shunting to relieve CSF pressure and optic nerve decompression if visual obscurations persist in spite of treatment.
References
- Wall M. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Neurol Clin. 2010 Aug;28(3):593-617.
- Mollan SP, Davies B, Silver NC, et al. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension: consensus guidelines on management. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2018 Oct;89(10):1088-100.
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