Identifying MicroRNA Biomarkers in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is characterized by raised intracranial pressure (ICP). It predominantly affects women with obesity and can cause disabling headaches and permanent visual loss. IIH is misdiagnosed in up to 40% of cases. Diagnosis and monitoring often rely on frequent invasive lumbar puncture. This pilot study aimed to identify serum microRNA (miRNA) markers associated with a diagnosis of IIH and disease activity and to assess their relevance in the CNS through identification in CSF. METHODS: tests and one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey multiple comparisons test. Differentially expressed miRNAs were evaluated in relation to clinical disease activity and metabolic profiles, using linear regression analysis. RESULTS: = 0.0241; CI 0.002-0.033). hsa-miR-16-5p was associated with metabolites involved in fatty acid metabolism and lipid biosynthesis. DISCUSSION: Serum hsa-miR-16-5p emerged as a candidate biomarker associated with active IIH. It differentiated active disease from remission, migraine, and obesity. It correlated with clinical and metabolic markers of disease activity. These findings warrant validation in larger studies to assess its potential as a minimally invasive biomarker for IIH diagnosis and monitoring. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class III evidence that serum microRNA markers may potentially distinguish active idiopathic intracranial hypertension from remission and controls in adult women.