Cortical blindness in severe preeclampsia: computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and single-photon-emission computed tomography findings.
BACKGROUND
Cortical blindness is a complication of severe preeclampsia, but it is unclear whether it results from cerebral vasospasm and ischemic injury or vasogenic (hydrostatic) edema due to increased capillary permeability.


METHODS
Reversible cortical blindness in a 33-year-old gravida 2, para 1, with severe postpartum preeclampsia after evacuation of a partial molar pregnancy at 19 weeks' gestation is presented. Initial neuroimaging studies showed hyperperfusion on head single-photon-emission computed tomography scan, which corresponded with lesions found on head computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans. Follow-up neuroimaging studies 2 weeks later, by which time the patient's visual acuity had returned to normal, showed complete resolution of radiologic abnormalities.


CONCLUSIONS
Neuroimaging studies in a woman with severe postpartum preeclampsia complicated by reversible cortical blindness showed that blindness resulted from vasogenic (hydrostatic) cerebral edema and not cerebral vasospasm.
Apollon
K M
KM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Robinson
J N
JN
Schwartz
R B
RB
Norwitz
E R
ER
D000328:Adult; D019575:Blindness, Cortical / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011859:Radiography; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon