BLIND OVERNIGHT: A case of fulminant idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) is a syndrome seen predominantly in obese women of reproductive age group, characterized by signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure due to an unknown cause. Some individuals have a more malignant form of disease called fulminant idiopathic intracranial hypertension with rapid worsening of symptoms over days. We report a case of 33 year-old obese female (BMI 36.9) who presented with a severe headache and blurred vision for one week, found to have idiopathic intracranial hypertension with rapid worsening of symptoms suggestive of a fulminant course of disease. She was managed with prompt surgical intervention. In patients with fulminant idiopathic intracranial hypertension, surgery such as cerebrospinal fluid shunting or optic nerve sheath fenestration should not be delayed to prevent vision loss.