“Idiopathic” means the cause is not known, “intracranial” means in the skull, and “hypertension” means high pressure.
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is a disorder of unknown etiology characterized by chronically elevated intracranial pressure. It happens when too much cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the fluid around the brain and spinal cord — builds up in human skull. This puts extra pressure on the brain and on the nerve in the back of the eye, called the optic nerve.
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is usually occurring in obese women in the childbearing years. The signs and symptoms of intracranial hypertension are that the patient maintains an alert and oriented mental state, but has no localizing neurologic findings.
The symptoms of increased intracranial pressure can include: headache, pulse synchronous tinnitus (ringing in the ears), transient visual obscurations and visual loss. The most common sign of intracranial hypertension is a sudden, severe headache. Sometimes the headache is so painful that it wakes the patient from sleep.
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension
