Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome with spinal cord involvement

Abstract

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a disorder related to an acute impairment of cerebral flow autoregulation that causes brain hyperperfusion and blood-brain barrier breakdown, leading to vasogenic edema affecting typically the posterior part of the brain usually related to acute severe hypertension [1]. Usual clinical presentation includes headaches, vomiting, encephalopathy, visual blurring and seizures. Diagnosis is confirmed by brain MRI showing vasogenic edema with usually a bilateral parieto-occipital pattern although brain oedema could affect other parts of the brain. Ten years ago, a case of reversible edema of the spinal cord has been reported in a patient with PRES associated to malignant hypertension (PRES-SCI, PRES with spinal cord involvement).