Transient splenial lesion after recovery of cerebral vasoconstriction and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: a case report of eclampsia

Intern Med. 2012;51(11):1407-11. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.51.7153. Epub 2012 Jun 1.

Abstract

We describe a 34-year-old eclamptic woman with transient splenial lesion (TSL) after reversible cerebral vasoconstriction (RCV) and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). She developed a headache, generalized convulsion and severe hypertension at an uncomplicated virginal delivery. Brain MRI disclosed T2-hyperintensity lesions in the posterior circulation territories. Two weeks later, T2-hyperintensity lesions had vanished. MR angiography (MRA) revealed segmental vasoconstriction in the right posterior, left internal and middle cerebral arteries. At one month after onset, MRA was normalized. T2-weighted imaging depicted asymptomatic isolated TSL. These radiological changes of the present patient highlighted the serial relationship between PRES, RCV and TSL in eclampsia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Eclampsia / pathology
  • Eclampsia / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome / complications*
  • Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome / pathology
  • Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Seizures / physiopathology
  • Vasoconstriction