title: [Encephalopathy induced by arterial hypertension: clinical, radiological and therapeutical aspects].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuroradiological features of hypertensive encephalopathy are not yet well-known.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical manifestations, neuroradiological aspects and treatment of four patients suffering from hypertensive encephalopathy were studied; special attention was paid to manifestations presented by one patient which appeared representative of the usual manifestations of hypertensive encephalopathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main clinical features were visual disturbances (n = 4); altered consciousness (n = 2) and seizures (n = 3). Visual disturbances resulted from cortical lesions (n = 4) associated with optic nerve damage and retinopathy (n = 2). Cerebral imaging showed low density images (CT scan) and hypersignal (MRI, T2 sequence) located in parieto-occipital cortical ribbon and adjacent white matter from the first 24 hours following the onset of neurologic symptoms. In the studied patient, the abnormal images resolved within 1 month after the onset of the disease. Unilateral infarction of the anterior visual pathway affected two patients in whom: 1) hypertension remaining undetected for a long time was revealed by neurological signs; 2) visual impairment was preceded by an hypotensive episode induced by antihypertensive therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neuroradiological features of hypertensive encephalopathy are useful in establishing the diagnosis. A gradual reduction of blood pressure could prevent the risk of visual complications.
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, hôpital de Bicêtre, Le Kremlin, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sébire
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Husson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lasser
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tardieu
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dommergues
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Landrieu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
vernacular_title: Encéphalopathie induite par l'hypertension artérielle: aspects cliniques, radiologiques et thérapeutiques.