[A reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome]

Abstract

Introduction and method: The reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy (RPLS) was initially described by Hinchey et al in patients hospitalized due to different acute process that cause hypertension and renal disease that were being treated with immunosuppressive agents. Clinically it produces an acute or subacute encephalopathy that usually agrees with a fast increase of blood pressure. Neuroimaging technique demonstrated abnormalities involving the white matter, especially bilateral edema in the posterior portions of the cerebral hemispheres, although it can also affect to any other cerebral area, trunk or cerebellum. The production mechanism is not well know. In case of hypertensive encephalopathy and eclampsia of pregnancy it is believed to be caused by vascular and endothelial autoregulation alterations, and when it's related to immunosuppressors the edema seems to have a cytotoxical origin. The particularity that defines the RPLS is that, in most cases, neurological symptoms and white matter lesions disappear after anti hypertensive treatment or when immunosuppressive agents is ceased.

Conclusion: The RPLS is an uncommon neurological complication, however each time more news cases appear in the medical literature. The excellent evolution and treatment response that these patients show and the full clinical and radiological recuperation suggest the need of its early identification to avoid unnecessary diagnostic studies or wrong treatments.