title: Acute cortical blindness in preeclampsia--a case of reversible posterior encephalopathy syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cortical blindness is one the most disturbing symptoms of reversible posterior encephalopathy syndrome in preeclamptic and eclamptic patients. The disease has been previously associated with a hypertensive breakthrough in the autoregulation of posterior cerebral arterioles followed by extravasation of the fluid into the brain tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  22-year-old primigravida in the 39th week of gestation diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus presented with mild preeclampsia and was admitted to our hospital. Antihypertensive treatment was initiated. Her blood pressure remained between 120/80 to 140/90 mm Hg. Glucose levels were within acceptable range. Before the labor induction she developed acute cortical blindness. Magnetic resonance imaging showed vasogenic edema localized in occipital lobes. Cesarean section was performed and anti-edematous treatment initiated. Blindness resolved by the fifth day postpartum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reversible posterior encephalopathy developed in our patient in spite of normalized blood pressure that remained within autoregulation limits. Alternative pathogenesis and precipitating factors are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Oddział Połozniczo-Ginekologiczny, Wojewódzki Szpital Specjalistyczny w Czestochowie, Polska.
authors.forename: Leszek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mitas
authors.forename: Lech
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rogulski
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019575:Blindness, Cortical / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020343:Hypertensive Encephalopathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D020127:Recovery of Function; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents