title: A reversible posterior leucoencephalopathy syndrome including blindness caused by preeclampsia.
abstract: Complications of (pre)eclampsia may involve multiple systems and organs. Neurological symptoms may occur. Visual symptoms concern up to 25% the of patients with severe preeclampsia and 50% of the patients with eclampsia. An uncommon effect of severe preeclampsia is sudden blindness. Blindness may be part of a clinical and radiological presentation named Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES). PRES may lead to permanent neurological deficit, recurrences or death. We report the case of a 24-year-old Caucasian patient, gravida 5 para 2 who developed preeclampsia and PRES complicated with blindness at 32 weeks of gestation. Optimal care allowed visual symptoms to resolve within 24 hours and a favourable maternal outcome and no long- term sequelae. We describe different causes and manifestations of PRES and highlight the need for immediate care in order to optimize the chance of symptoms reversibility.
authors.affiliation: CHU of Liège, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vandenbossche
authors.affiliation: University of Liège, Medical School, Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maquet
authors.affiliation: CHU of Liège, Department of Emergencies, Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vroonen
authors.affiliation: CHR de la Citadelle, Department of Anesthesiology, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: CHR de la Citadelle, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nisolle
authors.affiliation: CHU of Liège, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kridelka
authors.affiliation: CHU of Liège, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Emonts
keywords: Blindness; PRES; posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome; preeclampsia; pregnancy complication