Pseudotumour cerebri in a young obese woman on oral contraceptives.
OBJECTIVE
Pseudotumour cerebri has been previously recognized as a neurological side effect of combined oral contraceptives but has not been diagnosed with a delay of 3 years after initiation of combined oral contraceptives.


METHODS
A 19-year-old obese woman developed visual impairment and headache, 4 months after starting combined oral contraceptives. Three years later symptoms deteriorated and she presented with prominent tendon-jerks and congested optical-discs. Normal CSF drained with high pressure from the spinal tap. Pseudotumour cerebri was diagnosed. Headache and visual impairment resolved within 3 weeks after discontinuation of combined oral contraceptives.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined oral contraceptives-induced pseudotumour cerebri may remain undetected for years. Young, obese women with visual impairment and headache under combined oral contraceptives should undergo immediate neurological and ophthalmological investigation.
Finsterer
J
J
Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Vienna, Austria. duarte@aonmail.at
Kues
E-W
EW
Brunner
S
S
D000328:Adult; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011559:Pseudotumor Cerebri / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*
D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined