Case report reveals atypical PRES with intraventricular hemorrhage in eclampsia, suggesting careful diagnosis.
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) typically involves parieto-occipital regions but rarely presents with extensive central involvement and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). We report a rare case of atypical PRES with extensive central involvement and IVH in a patient with eclampsia, emphasizing diagnostic challenges and favorable outcomes. Initial CT showed IVH in all ventricles and bilateral basal ganglia hypodensities. Following emergency cesarean section, brain MRI revealed typical parieto-occipital vasogenic edema along with atypical involvement of the pons, midbrain, bilateral basal ganglia, and thalami, consistent with a central variant of PRES. Susceptibility-weighted imaging showed microhemorrhages in the basal ganglia, while MR venography excluded cerebral venous thrombosis. Conservative management with strict blood pressure control and seizure prophylaxis resulted in complete radiological resolution on follow-up imaging, and the patient was discharged without neurological deficits. Prompt recognition of atypical PRES patterns prevents misdiagnosis and unnecessary interventions despite severe radiological findings.
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Park et al. (2026) studied this question.
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