Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
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Your Personalized Treatment Plan
Do not limit your treatment options only to the nearest hospital.
We offer the most effective, quick and affordable treatment for intracranial hypertension,
thanks to the world’s largest hospital network.
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is increased pressure around your brain. It occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the liquid that cushions your spinal cord and brain, builds up in your skull. Pressure builds up in your brain and on your optic nerve, the nerve at the back of your eye that helps you see.
Complete Recovery
No Hidden Fees
No Waiting Lists
Leading Surgeons
Private treatment in our hospital network allows you skip waiting lists while at the same time reducing the costs treatment considerably, up to 50% cheaper, in countries that are just a short flight from home. The countries listed below make excellent choices with modern hospitals and well-trained English speaking surgeons.
Our medical consultants will advise you on the best choice for your cerebral hypertension in one of our leading hospitals. We will evaluate your current condition, expectations and other related factors, and offer you the most suitable option, respecting your health and the individual needs of your body and lifestyle. Your health is unique and so should be your solution.
- Berlin
- Zurich
- Vienna
- Paris
- Madrid
- Milan
- Warsaw
- Istanbul
Treatment of Acoustic Neuroma
For most people, intracranial hypertension symptoms improve with treatment. Your provider may recommend:
- Weight loss: If you have a high BMI, weight loss can reduce your symptoms. Your healthcare provider may recommend losing 5% to 10% of your body weight.
- Medication: Some medicines can help manage the symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe acetazolamide (Diamox®) or topiramate to help your body produce less cerebrospinal fluid. You may also take a diuretic (water pill) to decrease fluid retention.
- Surgery: In severe cases, you may need surgery for intracranial hypertension. Your dotor may recommend a spinal fluid shunt. A shunt is a long, thin tube placed in your brain to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid. Or you may have an eye surgery called optic nerve sheath fenestration. Your provider makes small incisions around your optic nerve to allow better cerebrospinal fluid drainage.
Complications of Acoustic Neuroma
Complications
Types
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Complications
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is not usually life threatening, but it can be a lifelong problem.
It can affect your vision, and there’s a risk that you could lose your vision. This is because the increased pressure around the brain can cause swelling of the optic nerve.
Treatment can help with problems with your vision and can reduce the risk of loss of vision.
It’s important to tell your doctor straight away if you notice any changes in your vision.
Types
Intracranial hypertension is systematized in four categories according to its aetiology and pathogenic mechanisms:
- Parenchymatous intracranial hypertension with an intrinsic cerebral cause;
- Vascular intracranial hypertension, which has its aetiology in disorders of cerebral blood circulation;
- Intracranial hypertension caused by disorders of cerebro–spinal fluid dynamics;
- Idiopathic ICH.
Causes
Some intracranial hypertension occurs because of known causes. Some people have chronic (long-lasting) intracranial hypertension because of health conditions like brain tumors or blood clots.
Acute (sudden) intracranial hypertension can occur after a:
- Brain abscess (collection of pus and swelling in the brain).
- Head injury or traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- Stroke.
If you have idiopathic intracranial hypertension, that means cerebrospinal fluid builds up for no known reason. This type can affect anyone but is most common in younger women who carry excess weight.
Women are more likely to develop the disease than men. Most are between ages 20 and 50.
You are also more likely to have idiopathic intracranial hypertension if you have:
- Body mass index (BMI) above 30.
- Chronic kidney disease.
- Conditions that affect your hormones, such as Cushing syndrome, hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
- Iron deficiency anemia (lack of red blood cells).
- Lupus.
- Polycythemia vera (too many red blood cells).
Symptoms
The most common sign of intracranial hypertension is a sudden, severe headache. Sometimes the headache is so painful that it wakes you from sleep. People with intracranial hypertension may also have a change in vision. You might see double or have sudden blind spots. Several conditions can cause these symptoms, so check with your doctor to find out if symptoms are related to this disease or another condition.
Intracranial hypertension symptoms can also include:
- Fatigue.
- Headaches.
- Loss of peripheral (side) vision.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Shoulder and neck pain.
- Temporary blindness.
- Tinnitus (ringing in your ears).
Diagnosis
Your doctor may use several diagnostic tests to rule out a tumor and find the cause of your symptoms. You may have:
- Brain CT scan or MRI.
- Eye exam to check for swelling near your optic nerve.
- Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) to evaluate your cerebrospinal fluid.
- Tests to check your reflexes, balance or muscle strength.
- Visual field test to check for blind spots in your vision.
