When a pregnancy required a neurological consultation: a case report

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a transient clinical and neuroradiological syndrome characterized by clinical signs and symptoms including hypertension, seizures, altered mental status, headache, and vision changes and characteristic features on head computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. PRES is most commonly reported in the literature in association with obstetric patients suffering from pre-eclampsia or eclampsia. In the acute setting, it is important to recognize the characteristics of PRES and immediately treat patients' emerging conditions that are hypertension and seizures. The following case report describes a pregnant patient who presented clinical characteristics of eclampsia with recurrent episodes of seizure and hypertension complicated by PRES. This case highlights the importance of early recognition and treatment of this condition that is usually transient and completely reversible, but can lead to ischemic injury and irreversible brain damage. Clin Ter 2012; 163(6):487-490