Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in a 9-year-old female patient with severe presentations of ulcerative colitis. A case study and the review of the literature

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical and radiological condition characterised by convulsions, loss of consciousness, headaches, blurred vision, nausea/vomiting, dysarthria and features of focal damage of the central nervous system. The mortality rate of the syndrome is 15%. Imaging examinations of the central nervous system, magnetic resonance imaging in particular, reveal lesions within the white matter in the form of vasogenic oedema. The study presents the case of a 9-year-old girl suffering from ulcerative colitis who experienced multiple loss of consciousness and general tonic-clonic seizures during a severe presentation of the disease. PRES syndrome was diagnosed following the clinical picture and head MRI. The clinical and radiological symptoms may have been related to a very severe clinical course of the primary condition and immunological disorders but it may also have been affected by the applied pharmacotherapy.