Endocrinological Aspects of Benign Intracranial Hypertension

Abstract

INCREASED intracranial pressure may be produced by several mechanisms. These include obstruction to normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation, cerebral edema, elevations of venous pressure, and space occupying lesions. In the majority of cases, the cause of the increased intracranial pressure may be readily determined. However, there exists a syndrome in patients with signs or symptoms of increased intracranial pressure in which no known cause can be found. These patients have neither ventricular abnormalities, focal neurologic signs, nor CSF abnormalities except for elevated spinal fluid pressure. This group of patients with "benign form of intracranial hypertension" or pseudotumor cerebri is composed predominantly of females.^1-3 The sex predilection combined with the clinical observation of this disorder occurring in those with menstrual dysfunction has led to the hypothesis that ovarian hormones or their interrelationship to other endocrine systems or both may be etiologic factors in this disorder.^4-7 To test this