PROJECT SUMMARY:
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension or pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) are names for a condition responsible for chronic headache and insidious vision loss. It affects primarily women of reproductive age but can also occur in anyone. The most important modifiable risk factor is obesity and as such is becoming increasingly more common, particularly in Australia. The symptoms of PTC are caused by high pressure of the fluid that surrounds the brain. Current therapies are aimed at addressing this either with medication or surgery. In recent years the role of the veins surrounding the brain have come into focus. The high pressure of the fluid will compress these veins as the disease becomes more severe. Using a minimally invasive operation to place a stent to mitigate this compression subsequently results in a cure for most patients. This is a treatment option for patients with moderate to severe disease. Patient must first be proven to have veins which are being significantly compressed. Currently, this can only be done with an invasive diagnostic procedure. We are currently refining existing cutting edge MRI technology that will enable us to scan patients without the need to have the invasive procedure. This will increase the access of patients to stenting and determine who is suitable without ever performing a procedure. This MRI technology can also define blood flow in such high resolution and provide accurate information about blood as it passes through the brain. Currently it is not known why the disease occurs but we are confident this technology will shed some light on the disease.
The Brain Foundation is the largest, independent funder of brain and spinal injury research in Australia. We believe research is the pathway to recovery.