Obesity may not be a risk factor for idiopathic intracranial hypertension in Asians

Eur J Neurol. 2008 Aug;15(8):876-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02207.x.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a clinical condition characterized by signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. We demonstrated the clinical presentation of IIH of Asians and investigated any ethnic difference in pathogenesis.

Methods and results: Ten patients who fulfilled the modified Dandy criteria and four with presumed diagnosis for IIH were included. Only one patient (7.1%) was obese according to body mass index, seven were overweight, and six weighed normal.

Conclusions: Obesity was not frequently found in Caucasians with IIH. This data indirectly suggest that obesity may not play a major role in the pathogenesis of IIH in Asians. Awareness of this is helpful in early diagnosis and treatment of IIH in Asians.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Asian People
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / complications*
  • Obesity / epidemiology*
  • Pseudotumor Cerebri / etiology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors