Extreme Obesity in Adolescents Linked with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

IIH should be considered in obese adolescent girls with headaches or blurred vision.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in children is uncommon and has been associated with use of expired tetracyclines and retinoids. In adults, increased intracranial pressure has been associated with extreme obesity. To examine the association between obesity and IIH in children, researchers reviewed the medical records of 913,178 children in the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Children's Health Study diagnosed with IIH between 2006 and 2009.

Among the 78 children with confirmed IIH, defined as the presence of papilledema and elevated opening cerebrospinal fluid pressure documented by lumbar puncture, 85% were girls, 85% were older than 11 years, 47% were non-Hispanic whites, and 73% were overweight or obese. Compared with unde…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

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Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

Extreme Obesity in Adolescents Linked with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

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Reviewing Author