Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension in Pregnancy with Aggravated Comorbidity: A Case Report and Review of Diagnostic and Management Challenges
<b>Background and Clinical Significance:</b> Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a rare cause of headache characterised by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, with an estimated incidence of 3.7 to 5 cases per 100,000 per year, peaking around the age of 40 years. Its diagnosis and management are particularly challenging in pregnancy due to overlapping symptoms and limited diagnostic options. <b>Case Presentation:</b> We report the case of a 42-year-old pregnant woman at 14 weeks of gestation presenting with a history of orthostatic headache and facial sinus tenderness, later diagnosed as spontaneous intracranial hypotension. <b>Conclusions:</b> Headache is a common clinical symptom that may be associated with a wide spectrum of underlying conditions, ranging from benign causes such as migraine or tension-type headache to potentially life-threatening pathologies, including subarachnoid haemorrhage. This case illustrates the diagnostic complexity of SIH in pregnancy and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and vigilance for neurological symptoms during pregnancy.
Authors
- Jhia Jiat Teh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7086-0546)
- Kavita Sandhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0007-1883)
- Konstantinos S. Kechagias (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6681-8479)
- Taruna Agrawal
- Sarah‐Jane Lam
- Zak Jefferson-Pillai
Institutions
- Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Imperial College London (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Reports — Medical Cases Images and Videos
- Published
- 2025-11-11
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/reports8040231
- Primary Topic
- Neurosurgical Procedures and Complications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00