Epidemiology and outcome of postural headache management in spontaneous intracranial hypotension.
OBJECTIVE
Spontaneous intracranial hypotension is a postural headache syndrome unrelated to dural puncture. Due to the apparent failure of epidural blood patch to relieve headache in spontaneous intracranial hypotension, we investigated the epidemiologic features and treatment outcomes of this condition.


METHODS
The clinical findings and management of 22 cases (21 published + 1 reported) of spontaneous intracranial hypotension were analyzed retrospectively. The study population was stratified by age and sex; continuous variables were compared for differences by t-tests; categorical variables were compared by Fisher exact tests. Significant differences were identified by P values of.05 or less.


RESULTS
The mean age of the study population was 43 +/- 16 years, with a female:male ratio of 3.4:1.0. Females with spontaneous intracranial hypotension were younger (P =.050) than males. Men presented with tinnitus (P =.021) and visual field defects (P =.009) more often than women. Meningeal enhancement on contrast magnetic resonance imaging was the most consistent radiographic finding. Radionuclide cisternography showed thoracolumbar dural leaks in 7 of 9 patients. Cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure was low in all patients (33.13 +/- 31.02 mm H(2)O). Epidural blood patch was performed in 8 patients, repeated in 3 patients, failed in 3 patients, and offered only transient improvement in 5 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Spontaneous intracranial hypotension was more common in women than men, was not uniformly responsive to epidural blood patch, and had significant comorbidities. The management of postural headache in spontaneous intracranial hypotension by other techniques to restore cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and prevent its leakage should be investigated.
Diaz
J H
JH
Department of Public Health, Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA. jdiaz@lsuhsc.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017217:Blood Patch, Epidural; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019585:Intracranial Hypotension / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008382:Marfan Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome