Dramatic improvement in severe posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a case of eclampsia

Abstract

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a reversible condition resulting in varying clinical states such as symmetrical edema in occipital and parietal lobes with altered consciousness and blindness of acute or subacute onset at computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this article, we present the case of a 16-year-old pregnant diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, who was brought to the emergency department due to impaired consciousness in the 34th week of pregnancy, experiencing generalized tonic-clonic seizure and after being diagnosed with eclampsia, whose cesarean delivery was performed under general anesthesia. The patient stated total loss of vision in the postoperative period and her cerebral CT revealed hypodensity in the bilateral occipital cortices. Increased intensity was observed in the bilateral posterior temporal, occipital regions and the frontal zones on T2 weighted images at cerebral MRI. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a reversible syndrome, but one that can cause brain damage unless treated appropriately. Its treatment consists of blood pressure control, antiedema therapy and seizure control.