Postural headache in a patient with Marfan's syndrome.

Abstract

A 26-year-old man with Marfan's syndrome had postural headache. Brain MRI with gadolinium showed diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement. MRI myelography revealed bilateral multiple large meningeal diverticula at sacral nerve roots level. He was suspected to have spontaneous intracranial hypotension syndrome. Eight days later headache improved with bed rest and hydration. One month after the onset he was asymptomatic and 3 months later brain MRI showed no evidence of diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement. The 1-year follow-up revealed no neurological abnormalities. The intracranial hypotension syndrome likely resulted from a CSF leak from one of the meningeal diverticula. In conclusion patients with spinal meningeal diverticula (frequently seen in Marfan's syndrome) might be at increased risk of developing CSF leaks, possibly secondary to Valsalva maneuver or minor unrecognized trauma.

• Authors: E Ferrante, A Citterio, A Savino, P Santalucia
• Journal: Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache (Cephalalgia) Vol. 23 Issue 7 Pg. 552-5 (Sep 2003) ISSN: 0333-1024 [Print] England
• PMID: 12950382 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Gadolinium

Topics

• Adult
• Brain (pathology)
• Diverticulum (complications)
• Gadolinium
• Headache (complications, diagnosis, etiology)
• Humans
• Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Marfan Syndrome (complications)
• Meninges
• Myelography
• Posture
• Spinal Cord (pathology)
• Spinal Cord Diseases (complications)