Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension in a Morbidly Obese Young Female Managed With Bariatric Surgery

Abstract

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a disorder of unknown etiology characterized by raised intracranial pressure (ICP) and papilledema, also known as pseudotumor cerebri. Morbid obesity mainly affects women of childbearing age, which makes it a consistent risk factor for the development of IIH in these individuals. Consequently, the higher the body mass index (BMI) the higher the risk of IIH. We report a case of a 30- year-old female with symptomatic idiopathic IIH and malfunctioning ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt, associated with obesity, who underwent a bariatric sleeve gastrectomy, which led to weight loss and a significant improvement in her IIH. Our objective is to better understand the efficacy of bariatric surgery as a treatment for IIH.