A case of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a 52 year old woman after cardiac arrest

A 52 year old woman who suffered a cardiac arrest was treated in a local hospital with cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Following transfer to our hospital, she developed renal failure, hypertension, impaired consciousness, headache, and visual disturbances. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed high signal intensity areas in the periventricular deep cerebral white matter and subcortical white matter (mainly in the parieto-temporo-occipital lobes), findings typical of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. After the MRI findings, her nitroglycerin infusion was Stopped, and antihypertensive therapy was initiated using beta blockers and alpha-agonists. She was also treated with continuous venovenous hemofiltration. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.