title: [Idiopathic intracranial hypertension].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is a rare syndrome of increased intracranial pressure without a massive lesion or abnormal cerebrospinal fluid. Common symptoms include headache and visual disturbances such as transient visual obscurations or visual loss. Treatment may alleviate symptoms and prevent serious complications. In this study, we present 10 cases illustrating aspects of the disease including causes and treatment options. We also evaluated the effect of treatment and compared the incidence with other studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We registered all patients and reviewed the medical notes on patients with intracranial hypertension treated at Tromsø University Hospital over a five-year period (1999-2003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We identified 10 patients with intracranial hypertension; 6 of them fulfilled the criteria of the International Headache Society for idiopathic intracranial hypertension while 4 had secondary intracranial hypertension caused by medication such as oral contraceptives or tetracycline, or by surgical therapy. Idiopathic or secondary intracranial hypertension should be considered in patients with unexplained chronic headache.
authors.affiliation: Nevrologisk avdeling, Universitetssykehuset Nord-Norge, 9038 Tromsø. steintingvoll@yahoo.no
authors.forename: Stein-Helge
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tingvoll
authors.forename: Svein Ivar
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Bekkelund
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D013754:Tetracyclines / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D013754:Tetracyclines