title: The syndrome of pseudotumour cerebri and idiopathic intracranial hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition in which raised intracranial pressure is associated with a high body mass index, and in those societies in which the prevalence of obesity is increasing the disorder is of increasing importance. It is one cause of the syndrome of pseudotumour cerebri but the cause and the link with a rise in body weight are not understood. Furthermore the treatment of the more severe, sight-threatening cases is controversial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A major theme in recent years has been an attempt to identify the underlying mechanism of IIH. Some theories - such as the dural sinus stenosis theory - seem to ignore the relationship with weight gain; others have proposed a direct link between obesity and raised intracranial pressure through a specific fat distribution in the body; others through the production of lipokines; and yet others have suggested a converse causation with raised intracranial pressure giving rise to obesity. Uncontrolled case series continue to demonstrate the success of interventions such as cerebrospinal fluid diversion procedures, venous sinus stenting and bariatric surgery but there are no level 1 clinical trials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interest in IIH is increasing and currently generating numerous studies but there is no consensus view on either cause or management.
authors.affiliation: Moorfields Eye Hospital, City Road, London, UK.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: Gordon T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Plant
mesh_terms: D000086:Acetazolamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011559:Pseudotumor Cerebri / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013577:Syndrome; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; D000086:Acetazolamide