Postpartum blindness: two cases.
We present 2 cases, one eclamptic patient and one noneclamptic patient, of headache, cortical blindness, and seizures. Both patients demonstrated findings consistent with posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome. Posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome is a rapidly evolving neurologic condition that is characterized by headache, nausea and vomiting, seizures, visual disturbances, altered sensorium, and occasionally focal neurologic deficits. Posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome can be triggered by numerous conditions, including preeclampsia-eclampsia, and can be seen in the postpartum period. It is characterized predominately by white matter vasogenic edema of the occipital and posterior parietal lobes. This condition can be difficult to differentiate clinically from cerebral ischemia, and magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient are needed to do so. In most cases of posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome, the prognosis is excellent, with full resolution of symptoms.
Chambers
Kimberly A
KA
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, Houston, TX 77030, USA. a.chambers@uth.tmc.edu
Cain
Terry Wayne
TW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019575:Blindness, Cortical / Q000209:etiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011859:Radiography; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
D000927:Anticonvulsants