Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Thousand Oaks, CA
Intracranial hypertension (IH) occurs when the brain experiences increased pressure due to traumatic injury or illness. This increased pressure is due to excess cerebrospinal fluid that impacts the optic nerve, creating vision changes, including vision loss, headaches, and many other symptoms. However, vision loss due to intracranial hypertension can be permanent, so it’s critical to seek treatment as these symptoms develop.
Intracranial hypertension can have many diagnosable causes, but when there is no known cause, the condition is called idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). While IIH is a rare condition, affecting approximately 1 in 100,000 people, it can affect men but is more likely to affect women of childbearing age. Fortunately, there are treatments to improve the symptoms and prognosis of IIH and reduce the risk of vision loss.
Led by quintuple-board-certified neurointerventionalist Dr. M. Asif Taqi, our experts at Vascular Neurology of Southern California have advanced diagnostic procedures and technologies to safely and effectively diagnose, treat, and monitor idiopathic intracranial hypertension to improve your quality of life and overall health and wellness.
Contact us online or call us at (805) 242-4884 to schedule your idiopathic intracranial hypertension consultation. Our practices proudly serve patients in Thousand Oaks, West Lake, Woodland Hills, Ventura, Camarillo, Calabasas, and many other areas throughout Southern California, as well as Las Vegas, NV.
What Is Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension?
Intracranial hypertension (IH) is an increase of pressure in the brain. There are many types of IH that can occur. For example, IH can result from a severe head injury, traumatic brain injury, brain aneurysm, or stroke. Other conditions, such as brain tumor, abscess, meningitis, or encephalitis, may also cause IH. IH can develop as a severe complication of high blood pressure. Treatment for IH depends greatly on its cause.
Unfortunately, there are times when there is no obvious condition to explain why increased pressure is building up around the brain. This condition is then called idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). The word idiopathic denotes any disease or condition that arises spontaneously without a known cause.
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension occurs due to increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), increasing the pressure in the skull. This buildup of CSF can create significant pressure on your optic nerve—the nerve that connects the brain to the eyes and helps you see. IIH can cause many symptoms, including headaches, vision changes, or even temporary blindness.
While idiopathic intracranial hypertension is typically not a life-threatening condition, it can cause lifelong health concerns. The biggest concern is the impact of IIH on the optic nerve. The increased pressure in the brain can cause swelling that can affect vision and significantly increase the risk of permanent vision loss. Starting treatment as soon as possible after symptoms appear may improve vision problems and reduce the risk of vision loss, so it’s important to inform your provider immediately of any changes in your vision.
Who Is Most Likely to Develop Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension?
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension occurs in about 1 in every 100,000 people. While men can develop IIH, women who are between the ages of 20 to 50 and are overweight are most likely to develop the condition.
While there is no known specific cause for IIH, other risk factors to may lead to developing the condition are:
- Body mass index (BMI) over 30
- Chronic kidney disease
- Conditions that affect the hormones, including Cushing syndrome, Addison’s disease, hypothyroidism, or hyperthyroidism
- Medications, including certain antibiotics, lithium for mental health conditions, or thyroid medications
- High levels of vitamin A
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Polycythemia vera, a condition that causes excess red blood cells
- Lupus, an autoimmune disease
It’s important to discuss any conditions you have that may increase your risk of developing IIH with your provider. For those who have a BMI higher than 30, you may be able to reduce your risk of IIH by reducing your weight. For patients who are experiencing iron deficiency, iron supplements or other medications help reduce your risk.
Some types of intracranial hypertension may occur due to known causes, such as a head injury or traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, aneurysm, meningitis, or brain abscess or tumor. Your provider may require several diagnostic tests to rule out these conditions and discover the root causes of increased pressure on the brain and symptoms, such as vision changes and headaches.
Diagnostic tests may include:
- CT scan or MRI scan of the brain
- Eye exam to assess the vision and check for swelling near the optic nerve
- Visual field test to review blind spots and peripheral vision
- Spinal tap, or lumbar puncture, to evaluate the cerebrospinal fluid, including the pressure in the fluid
- Examination to test functions, including muscle strength, balance and coordination, and reflexes
A diagnosis of idiopathic, or unknown, intracranial hypertension may be given if you have symptoms, including increased pressure on the brain and vision disturbances, and no other cause can be determined.
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Symptoms
While many symptoms of idiopathic intracranial hypertension worsen slowly, some patients experience a severe and sudden onset. The most common sign of IIH is a sudden, severe headache, and many patients also experience significant vision changes.
Other symptoms of IIH can include:
- Constant, throbbing headaches
- Temporary vision loss, including vision becoming dark, peripheral (side) vision loss, or temporary blindness
- Difficulty or pain when looking at bright lights (photophobia)
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Weakness or loss of feeling
- Tinnitus, or a ringing in the ears
- Coordination or balance issues
- Mental confusion
- Nausea or vomiting
- Shoulder and neck pain
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatments
While intracranial hypertension (IH) with a known cause may have a specific treatment, patients who experience idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) due to unknown reasons may need to seek different remedies to attain relief. However, most patients show improvement from IIH symptoms within a few months of beginning treatment.
IIH treatment options may include:
- For patients with a BMI over 30, weight loss of 5 to 10% of body weight may help reduce symptoms or relieve them entirely
- Certain medications may cause IIH symptoms. Stopping these medications may reduce symptoms.
- Diuretic medications to decrease fluid retention
- Medications to reduce CSF production
- Steroid medications to relieve headaches and reduce vision loss risks
- Lumbar punctures to remove excess CSF and reduce pressure on the brain
In severe cases of IIH, where other treatments have failed to improve symptoms, surgery may be an option. Surgery is considered if your vision is worsening or you’re at significant risk of permanent vision loss. While surgery may provide relief from IIH symptoms, it can create a substantial risk of serious complications. That’s why consulting with a highly skilled provider familiar with IIH is essential to ensure appropriate treatment.
The types of surgery for IIH include:
Spinal Fluid Shunt involves inserting a shunt, or a long, thin tube, into the brain to help drain CSF and divert the excess fluid to be reabsorbed in another part of the body.
Optic Nerve Sheath Fenestration is an eye surgery that uses small incisions in the protective layer surrounding the optic nerve to reduce pressure and allow better draining of CSF.
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Prognosis and Recovery
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is a long-term condition that can last several months to years. Gradual improvement or even stabilization can often be achieved following months of treatment. After treatment, many patients experience relief from IIH symptoms as well as a reduced risk of vision loss.
Even following treatment, IIH recurrences can occur, so it’s critical to monitor your vision for any changes through regular checkups with your ophthalmologist and IIH specialist.
Choosing Dr. Taqi for Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment
When experiencing significant health issues, choosing the right provider is critical. Quintuple board-certified neurointerventionalist Dr. M. Asif Taqi and his expert team continually seek new methods and treatments to help patients improve their overall health. Our providers focus on developing relationships with their patients in order to deliver utmost care. With dedication to providing outstanding results, Dr. Taqi and his team are your choice as the best idiopathic intracranial hypertension treatment specialists in Thousand Oaks, CA.
Schedule Your Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Consultation Today
If you or a loved one is experiencing the symptoms of idiopathic intracranial hypertension, the experts at Vascular Neurology of Southern California are here to help you navigate your treatment options. When you partner with Vascular Neurology of Southern California, we want to help restore your quality of life so that you can feel like your best self again.
Contact us online or call us at (805) 242-4884 to schedule your idiopathic intracranial hypertension consultation. Our six practices proudly serve patients in Thousand Oaks, West Lake, Woodland Hills, Ventura, Camarillo, Calabasas, and many other areas throughout Southern California, as well as our location in Las Vegas, NV.