Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neuropsychiatry

Background: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a disease of raised intracranial pressure, which is most commonly seen in young overweight women. Although the pathogenesis is currently unknown, contribution of inflammatory mediators has been suggested in the pathophysiology of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Objective: This study aimed to measure serum level of TNFÜ in patients with IIH and to examine its relation to clinical and ophthalmological parameters and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) opening pressure. Subjects and Methods: Thirty six patients fulfilling revised diagnostic criteria for IIH and 30 healthy subjects matched for age, sex and Body Mass Index (BMI) were enrolled in the study. Patients were subjected to complete neurological, general and ophthalmological assessment. Serum level of TNF alpha was measured for patients and controls using Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA). Results:Mean serum TNFÜ level was significantly higher in IIH patients compared to healthy controls (P<0.001). mean serum TNFÜ level was statistically negatively correlated with grade of perimetry (r= -0.366, P= 0.028) and CSF opening pressure (r = - 0.373, P= 0.025) during relapse. However, no significant correlation was detected between serum TNFÜ with age at onset, duration of the disease, BMI, headache severity, relapse rate, visual acuity or grade of papilloedema

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