Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome presenting as convexity subarachnoid haemorrhage and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome during postpartum: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Background Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is characterized by thunderclap headache and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction, with other neurologic signs and symptoms. To the best of our knowledge, there were only a few cases of RCVS presenting both as both convexity subarachnoid haemorrhage (cSAH) and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Case presentation Herein, We report a case of a 32-year-old woman with RCVS who presented with recurrent thunderclap headaches that occurred 50 days after delivery, with cSAH and PRES on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). She had significant clinical and radiological recover with 3 months’ follow-up. Conclusions The clinical coexistence of cSAH and PRES in our case with RCVS is quite rare. This case further raises the importance of the early diagnosis of RCVS, and clinical physicians should be well recognized when initial brain and vascular imaging are normal.