Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research
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Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy (PRES) is characterized by acute-onset headache, altered mental status, cortical blindness and seizures, with parietal-occipital involvement. We report all cases of PRES diagnosed in our intensive care unit during the last 4 years, and evaluate their outcome in terms of the different medical treatments used. Even if usually reversible, PRES can sometimes result in death or irreversible neurological deficit, such as chronic epilepsy. ⋯ The widespread use of MRI technology has made PRES familiar to many clinicians. Although PRES is reversible when treatment is instituted, delayed diagnosis and therapy can result in chronic neurological sequelae. The relationship between hypertensive encephalopathy and chronic epilepsy needs to be confirmed by longitudinal studies. Normalization of blood pressure and treatment of seizures deserves particular attention.