A study on clinical and radiological features and outcome in patients with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES)

Abstract

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is characterized clinically by headaches, seizures, vomiting, nausea, visual abnormalities, and altered mental function and is often (but not invariably) accompanied by parieto-occipital imaging features. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical and radiological features and outcome following PRES in a paediatric cohort. From a retrospectively identified cohort, case records were studied to confirm a diagnosis of PRES. Neuroimaging was reviewed again to assign to recently described radiological subtypes parieto-occipital pattern, holohemispheric watershed pattern, dominant superior frontal sulcus pattern, and asymmetrical or partial expression of the three primary patterns (A/P). Patient outcome was measured by the modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores. Nine boys and three girls with mean age of 12 were identified. Hypertensive episodes (n = 11), tacrolimus toxicity (n = 4), and autoimmunity (n = 1) were identified as potential risk factors/etiologies. Their median mRS at the peak of illness was 2 (range 2-5); three children required intensive care support. After mean follow-up of 35 months (median 37 months; range 3-60 months), all patients improved significantly with mean mRS of 1 (median 1; range 0-1).

Conclusion: PRES is easily recognizable by the clinical and radiological features. Although severe at presentation, the outcome from this condition is favorable.