MASKS OF ACUTE CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENTS IN YOUNG PEOPLE: POSTERIOR REVERSIBLE ENCEPHALOPATHY SYNDROME

Abstract. Introduction. Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome is a clinical radiological syndrome characterized by acute, potentially reversible vasogenic edema of the subcortical white matter of the brain, predominantly involving the occipital and parietal lobes. Aim was to discuss the difficulties in diagnosing this syndrome. Material and Methods. A clinical case of a patient was analyzed, who had been admitted to a medical facility with acute severe neurological symptoms arising from uncontrolled arterial hypertension and kidney pathology. Results and Discussion. The patient manifested an acute development of the disease, severe headache, focal neurological symptoms, confusion, epileptic seizure, and the characteristic signs of the disease on neuroimaging. Conclusions. This clinical case illustrates the variety of predisposing factors and clinical and radiological manifestations of the posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. The case presented emphasizes the importance of including posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in the differential diagnosis of acute neurological symptoms, especially in the presence of risk factors, such as arterial hypertension, alcohol exposure, kidney pathology, and previous brain injuries; and it also demonstrates the key role of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosing and preventing potentially irreversible brain changes