A multi-disciplinary model of risk factors for fatal outcome in posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the relative impact of clinical data, imaging findings, and CSF laboratory values on clinical outcome in patients with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Methods 47 patients with PRES who underwent a lumbar puncture were retrospectively evaluated. Fatal outcome was defined as death directly ascribed to PRES toxicity. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the association between fatal outcome and clinical factors (demographics, PRES etiology), imaging findings (signal abnormality severity, atypical distribution, restricted diffusion, hemorrhage, enhancement, angiographic abnormalities), and lumbar puncture results (appearance, cell count, glucose, protein, culture results). Results Nine patients (19.1%) had a fatal outcome. Odds of a fatal outcome increased nearly 5-fold with hemorrhage on imaging (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 4.8, 95% CI 3.8–6.0, p = 0.03) and nearly doubled with low CSF glucose (AOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.5–2.5, p = 0.02). Hypertensive encephalopathy as an etiology was associated with a fatal outcome (AOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.3–2.9, p = 0.02), while toxemia of pregnancy was protective, with a 75% decreased risk (AOR 0.25, 95% CI 0.15–0.43, p = 0.02). Conclusion Clinical, imaging, and CSF laboratory findings all influence outcome in PRES, with a low CSF glucose, hypertensive encephalopathy, and imaging findings of hemorrhage associated with increased risk of fatal outcome.