Venous Sinus Stenting for Low Pressure Gradient Stenoses in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Authors

Mehmet Enes Inam
Juan Carlos Martinez-Gutierrez
Matthew J Kole
Francisco Sanchez
Elvira Lekka
Van Thi Thanh Truong
Victor Lopez-Rivera
Faheem G Sheriff
Laura A Zima
Claudia Pedroza
Rosa Tang
Ore-Ofe Adesina
Allison Engstrom
Sunil A Sheth
Peng Roc Chen

Publication Date

11-1-2022

Journal

Neurosurgery

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Medically refractory idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is frequently treated with venous sinus stenosis stenting with high success rates. Patient selection has been driven almost exclusively by identification of supraphysiological venous pressure gradients across stenotic regions based on theoretical assessment of likelihood of response.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the possibility of benefit in low venous pressure gradient patients.

METHODS: Using a single-center, prospectively maintained registry of patients with IIH undergoing venous stenting, we defined treatment groups by gradient pressures of ≤4, 5 to 8, and >8 mmHg based on the most frequently previously published thresholds for stenting. Baseline demographics, clinical, and neuro-ophthalmological outcomes (including optical coherence tomography and Humphrey visual fields) were compared.

RESULTS: Among 53 patients, the mean age was 32 years and 70% female with a mean body mass index was 36 kg/m 2 . Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. The mean change in lumbar puncture opening pressure at 6 months poststenting was similar between the 3 groups (≤4, 5-8, and >8 mmHg; 13.4, 12.9, and 12.4 cmH 2 O, P = .47). Papilledema improvement was observed across groups at 6 months (100, 93, and 86, P = .7) as were all clinical symptoms. The mean changes in optical coherence tomography retinal nerve fiber layer (-30, -54, and -104, P = .5) and mean deviation in Humphrey visual fields (60, 64, and 67, P = .5) at 6 weeks were not significantly different.

CONCLUSION: Patients with IH with low venous pressure gradient venous sinus stenosis seem to benefit equally from venous stenting compared with their higher gradient counterparts. Re-evaluation of our restrictive criteria for this potentially vision sparing intervention is warranted. Future prospective confirmatory studies are needed.

Keywords

Adult, Constriction, Pathologic, Cranial Sinuses, Female, Humans, Intracranial Hypertension, Intracranial Pressure, Male, Pseudotumor Cerebri, Retrospective Studies, Stents, Treatment Outcome

Comments

PMID: 35960743