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Copyright 1989, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008
NORD is very grateful to Bradley K. Farris, MD, Dean A. McGee Eye Institute and Professor, Departments of Ophthalmology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma School of Medicine, for assistance in the preparation of this report.
Synonyms of Pseudotumor Cerebri
- Benign Intracranial Hypertension
- Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (Primary Intracranial Hypertension)
- Secondary Intracranial Hypertension
Disorder Subdivisions
General Discussion
Intracranial Hypertension (Pseudotumor cerebri) is characterized by increased pressure inside the skull. Intracranial means inside the skull and hypertension means high fluid pressure. Basically, the pressure of the fluid that surrounds the brain (cerebrospinal fluid or CSF) is too high. Elevated CSF pressure produces severe headache and often visual difficulties, which, if left untreated can result in loss of vision or blindness.
Pseudotumor Cerebri and Benign Intracranial Hypertension are both former names for Intracranial Hypertension (IH) which are now considered inaccurate. These names do not adequately describe the disorder and downplay the seriousness of IH. There are two categories of IH: Primary Intracranial Hypertension and Secondary Intracranial Hypertension.
Primary Intracranial Hypertension, also known as Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH), occurs without known cause. This form most often occurs in young, overweight, females in their reproductive years (ages 20-45).
Secondary Intracranial Hypertension has an identifiable, causative agent, including drugs
(such as tetracycline, lithium, Vitamin A-derived oral acne medications, and steroids, especially during withdrawal), growth hormone treatments, excessive ingestion of Vitamin A, sleep apnea and certain systemic diseases such as lupus, leukemia, kidney failure (uremia), meningitis and dural venous sinus thrombosis. Many other causes have been suggested in the medical literature but have not yet been confirmed as true causes.
Although many factors are known to trigger the disease, the mechanism by which IH occurs, in either Primary or Secondary forms, is not known. In many cases, either type of IH may be chronic.
Organizations related to Pseudotumor Cerebri
- Chiari & Syringomyelia Foundation (CSF)
290 Broadhollow Road, Suite 210E
Melville NY 11747
Phone #: 516-228-3565
800 #: N/A
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.CSFinfo.org
- Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg MD 20898-8126
Phone #: 301-251-4925
800 #: 888-205-2311
e-mail: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/EmailForm.aspx
Home page: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD
- Intracranial Hypertension Research Foundation (IHRF)
6517 Buena Vista Dr
Vancouver WA 98661
Phone #: 360-693-4473
800 #: --
e-mail: contact@ihrfoundation.org
Home page: http://www.ihrfoundation.org
- Madisons Foundation
PO Box 241956
Los Angeles CA 90024
Phone #: 310-264-0826
800 #: N/A
e-mail: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org
Home page: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda MD 20824
Phone #: 301-496-5751
800 #: 800-352-9424
e-mail: me20t@nih.gov
Home page: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
- Pseudotumor Cerebri Support Network
3521 Westbay Drive
Powell OH 43065
Phone #: N/A
800 #: --
e-mail: redbird@icok.net
Home page: http://www.angelfire.com/ok/PTCSupportNetwork/
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