Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension and Obesity

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), also known as primary pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (PTCS), is a condition of unknown etiology which affects primarily overweight, reproductive-aged women and causes increased intracranial pressure (ICP). This review discusses the recently revised diagnostic criteria for PTCS for adults and children. Additionally, the role of obesity in the epidemiology, etiology, and management of IIH as well as the current knowledge of obesity profiles and markers in IIH are reviewed. We also highlight the emerging, unifying theory of the neuroendocrine effects on the mineralocorticoid receptor to explain a possible mechanism for the increased cerebrospinal fluid production and ICP in secondary PTCS.