Intracranial Hypertension

[elster]

Does anyone have any experience of this?

Or know much about it??

I have read a few websites (IH research foundation being one)

However there doesn't seem to be much knowledge out there about this.

[Nubbin]

It's an odd condition caused by impaired absorption of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) out of the brain spaces, and has many causes. It is slowly progressive unless treated by drugs or shunt surgery. Most common triggering factor these days is taking the combined oral contraceptive pill (the ones with oestrogen in).

[elster]

Nubbin said:

It's an odd condition caused by impaired absorption of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) out of the brain spaces, and has many causes. It is slowly progressive unless treated by drugs or shunt surgery. Most common triggering factor these days is taking the combined oral contraceptive pill (the ones with oestrogen in).

It does seem quite odd.

It is basically a tumour, without the tumour. (That makes sense in my head)

I am quite interested in specifically how it is caused, as in how the trigger does it.

Was reading into this for a friend, and it seems that there isn't much written down on the hows and whys. Found things like this quite interesting, although could well be out of my depth.

[Nubbin]

There are lots of causes. The basic problem is that CSF production exceeds drainage capacity, so the fluid builds up and causes rising pressure inside the skull. If untreated it is fatal eventually - which is why they stopped calling it Benign intracranial hypertension - 'cos it isn't benign at all.

Any condition which causes a rise in venous blood pressure, such as heart failure, thrombosis in the veins inside the skull, (hence the pill problem) thyroid disease, head injuries etc. can be implicated. There are treatments both medical with drugs like Acetazolamids which reduces CSF production, or a shunt - basically a valved tube stuck into the brain cavities and led down to the large blood vessels deep in the chest.

[The_Doc]

The Monro - Kellie doctrine

CSF production

Google these and don't get too stuck on the fine details.

[Scotfox]

Guy I know here at work had a very close call with this a few years back. Had had headaches on and off for a few days which he put down to stress. Woke up one morning with a splitting headache and feeling sick. Made it to the bathroom and the next thing he remembers is waking up a week later in the ICU.

Apparently he had a pea sized tumour blocking the duct that naturally drains the CSF. He now has a shunt fitted. Touch wood he's had no further problems.