Chronic paroxysmal intracranial hypertension leading to syncope is a phenomenon not reported previously in patients with refractory cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. We report a case of paroxysmal intracranial hypertension leading to syncopal episodes in a patient with idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia and venous sinus thrombosis. This case demonstrates that intermittent elevations in intracranial pressure can lead to syncope in patients with venous sinus thrombosis and emphasizes the importance of considering this potentially treatable etiology of syncopal episodes.
SaposnikGBarinagarrementeriaFBrownRDJrDiagnosis and management of cerebral venous thrombosis: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2011;42(4):1158–1192.
8.
TorbeyMGeocadinRRazumovskyARigamontiDWilliamsM. Utility of CSF pressure monitoring to identify idiopathic intracranial hypertension without papilledema in patients with chronic daily headache. Cephalalgia. 2004;24(6):495–502.
9.
JedynakCFournierLFischlerMDeromePRougerieJNaquetR. Loss of consciousness and benign intracranial hypertension—correlations between CSF pressure and EEG. Rev Neurol (Paris). 1984;140(3):217–220.
10.
YildizOCevikSCilGOztoprakIBolayirETopaktasS. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis presenting as transient ischemic attacks in a case with homozygous mutations of MTHFR A1298C and CG677T. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2012;21(1):75–77.
11.
Manzano PalomoSEgido HerreroJSaiz AyalaAJorquera MoyaM. Transient ischemic attack: the only presenting syndrome of dural sinus thrombosis. Neurologia. 2006;21(3):155–158.
BousserMChirasJBoriesJCastaigneP. Cerebral venous thrombosis—a review of 38 cases. Stroke. 1985;16(2):199–213.
14.
ChangDYoonSChungK. Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis and transient ischemic attacks: possible mechanism. J Korean Med Sci. 1998;13(5):566–568.
15.
HayashiMKobayashiHHandaYKawanoHHiroseSIshiiH.Plateau-wave phenomenon (II). Occurrence of brain herniation in patients with and without plateau waves. Brain. 1991;114(pt 6):2693–2699.
16.
GrubbBPSamoilDKosinskiDCerebral syncope: loss of consciousness associated with cerebral vasoconstriction in the absence of systemic hypotension. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1998;21(4 pt 1):652–658.
17.
GrubbRRaichleMPhelpsMRachesonR. Effects of increased intracranial pressure on cerebral blood volume, blood flow, and oxygen utilization in monkeys. J Neurosurg. 1975;43(4):385–398.
18.
LescotTNaccacheLBonnetMPAbdennourLCoriatPPuybassetL. The relationship of intracranial pressure Lundberg waves to electroencephalograph fluctuations in patients with severe head trauma. Acta Neurochirurgica (Wein). 2005;147(2):125–129.
19.
DantasFGCavalcantiAPRodrigues MacielBDThe role of EEG in patients with syncope. J Clin Neurophysiol. 2012;29(1):55–57.