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Background: Epidural blood patching (EBP) is the primary treatment for spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH), although multiple attempts may sometimes be necessary. The SIH-EBP score, with a cutoff of ≥3, predicts the response to the first EBP. However, its generalizability requires further confirmation. This study aims to validate the clinical utility of the SIH-EBP score and determine the optimal cutoff for predicting the response to the first EBP in an independent cohort of patients with SIH., Methods: This retrospective study included patients with SIH who received at least one EBP at a tertiary medical center. Clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records, and brain and spinal magnetic resonance images were reviewed., Results: Ninety-six patients (58 female [F]/38 male [M], mean age: 42.67 ± 10.16 years) were screened, with 49 (32 F/17 M, mean age: 41.20 ± 9.13 years) analyzed, including 30 (22 F/8 M, mean age: 41.10 ± 10.14 years) (61.2%) responders. There was a positive correlation between SIH-EBP scores and responder rates ( p = 0.001). A cutoff score of ≥3 was associated with a higher response rate than a score of <3 (80.0% vs 41.7%, p = 0.006) (sensitivity = 73.7%, specificity = 66.7%, accuracy = 69.4%). The optimal cutoff in this cohort was ≥2 (Area under curve (AUC) = 0.77, p < 0.001) (sensitivity = 52.6%, specificity = 90.0%, accuracy = 75.5%)., Conclusion: In this cohort, the SIH-EBP score correlated with response rates to the first EBP. Although a score of ≥3 remains a valid predictor of treatment response, a cutoff of ≥2 proved to be more accurate and specific. However, its practical use is limited by a sensitivity of 52.6%. Further studies are needed to verify its role in other populations., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: Dr. Shuu-Jiun Wang, an editorial board member at the Journal of the Chinese Medical Association , had no role in the peer review process or decision to publish this article. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2024, the Chinese Medical Association.)

Background: Spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is frequently encountered clinically after lumbar puncture or spontaneous events. Although some patients recover without treatment or after intensive hydration, some require an epidural blood patch (EBP). The risks of nonresponsive hydration remain unknown. Therefore, we identified the risk factors for patients with spinal CSF leakage nonresponsive to hydration., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with spinal CSF leakage between January 2010 and March 2021. Clinical data, including patient age, sex, etiology, and radiological indications in magnetic resonance imaging, were compared between patients who were responsive and non-responsive to hydration., Results: Of the 74 patients with spinal CSF leakage, 25 were responsive to hydration and 49 required EBP. Patients who were nonresponsive to hydration were older (39.27 vs. 34.32 years, P = 0.01), had a higher percentage of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (93.88% vs. 68.00%, P = 0.005), had more spinal CSF leakage (12.04 vs. 8.04, P = 0.01), and had a higher percentage of dural sinus engorgement (81.63% vs. 60.00%, P = 0.044). Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (odds ratio [OR]: 4.63; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00-21.38) and having ≥9 spinal CSF leakages (OR: 3.29; 95% CI: 1.08-10.01), as indicated by magnetic resonance myelography, are considered risk factors for noneffective hydration., Conclusions: Patients with spinal CSF leakage who have spontaneous intracranial hypotension and those with ≥9 spinal CSF leakages are considered at risk for noneffective hydration. EBP should be considered early in these patients., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is often misdiagnosed, and can lead to severe complications. Conventional MR sequences show a limited ability to aid in this diagnosis. MR-based intracranial pressure (MR-ICP) may be able to detect changes of intracranial elastance and pressure., Purpose: To determine whether MR-ICP is able to differentiate SIH patients from normal subjects, improve diagnostic sensitivity, and provide an insight into the pathophysiology., Study Type: Prospective., Subjects: Twenty-eight SIH cases with orthostatic headache and 20 healthy volunteers., Field Strength/sequence: Cine phase-contrast MRI on a 1.5T scanner., Assessment: Intracranial elastance (IE) was derived from the ratio of the peak-to-peak cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure gradient (PG csf-pp ) and intracranial volume change, obtained by summing all flows before each sequential cardiac frame., Statistical Tests: Student's t-test was used to compare the MR-ICP indexes and flow parameters between SIH patients and healthy volunteers (P < 0.01)., Results: The SIH patients with cervical epidural venous dilatation (EVD) had an IE of 0.121 ± 0.027 mmHg/cm/ml, significantly higher than that of the normal volunteers (0.085 ± 0.027 mmHg/cm/ml; P = 0.002). In contradistinction, the EVD-negative SIH patients, including four with no sign of CSF leaks, had significantly lower IE (0.055 ± 0.012 mmHg/cm/ml) compared with the normal volunteers and the EVD-positive group (P = 0.001, P < 0.001). The EVD-negative patients had significantly lower PG csf-pp (0.024 ± 0.007 mmHg/cm) compared with the normal volunteers and the EVD-positive group (0.035 ± 0.011 mmHg/cm, 0.040 ± 0.010 mmHg/cm; P = 0.003, P < 0.001). Additionally, the MRI flow study showed a significant decrease in transcranial inflow and outflow of SIH patients (P < 0.01)., Data Conclusion: We found that the MR-ICP method is potentially more sensitive than morphological MRI in the early diagnosis of SIH. Also, contrary to common belief, our results suggest that an abnormal craniospinal elastance might be the cause of SIH, instead of CSF leak., Level of Evidence: 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 3 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1255-1263., (© 2018 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.)

Background: Diagnosis of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) relies on the ability of medical staff to recognize cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage at the spine. However, difficulties with interobserver discrepancy sometimes occurred while reading magnetic resonance myelography (MRM) because clear image definition was lacking. In this study, we tried to determine which pattern of CSF distribution is more reliable for diagnosis of CSF leakage by using MRM., Methods: From January 2012 to August 2014, 19 SIH patients and 27 healthy controls (HC) were recruited into our study; 10 of the 19 patients were recovered (SIH-R) after treatment. Whole spine MRM was performed using the 3D-SPACE (three-dimensional sampling perfection with application-optimized contrasts using different flip-angle evolutions) sequence, and interpreted by two experienced neuroradiologists. Two 4-point classification systems of CSF distribution were used to evaluate the three-dimensional maximum intensity projection (3D MIP) and the thin-slice axial multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) images, respectively., Results: The interobserver agreement between the two readers interpreting the 3D MIP and thin-slice axial MPR MRM were moderate to good (κ=0.60-0.78). Grade 3 of 3D MIP and Type D of axial MPR MRM were only noticed in the SIH. Overall, Grade 3 of MIP and Type D of MPR showed significant difference (p<0.008) between the SIH and the HC in the whole spine. Type C at the T-spine was more frequently noted in the SIH than in the HC (p<0.038). By using "Grade 3", "Type D", "Type D and Type C at T-spine" as the diagnostic criteria of CSF leakage, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predict value (PPV), and negative predict value (NPV) were all > 70%., Conclusion: Grade 3 on 3D MIP and Type D on axial MPR MRM were definite criteria of MRM for localizing CSF leakage, and Type C in the T-spine was a probable leakage sign with high sensitivity and NPV., (Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Most diagnostic tools for spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) are either invasive or occasionally inconsistent with the clinical condition. In this study, we examined the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics in SIH using phase-contrast magnetic resonance (PC-MR) imaging., Materials and Method: Seventeen SIH patients and 32 healthy individuals, matched by sex and age, were recruited. Each person underwent brain and PC-MR imaging using 3-Tesla MRI. We evaluated the differences in image parameters among patients during the initial and recovery stages against the status of the control group., Results: SIH patients had lower CSF flow-volume, flux, peak velocity, and higher systolic-to-diastolic time ratio, as well as systolic-to-diastolic volume ratio compared to the control group and the conditions when they recovered. The flow time and volume of the diastolic phase markedly increased after treatment. The discriminating power of PC-MR for SIH was good. Diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement and venous engorgement were present when their PC-MR values were lower than the cut-off values for SIH diagnosis. The headache scores correlated with the peak velocity and pituitary volume., Conclusion: Noninvasive PC-MR could provide valid parameters for diagnosis and treatment follow-up in SIH patients. It may be more sensitive than conventional brain MRI., (© International Headache Society 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.)

A 36-year-old male had spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) presenting with refractory headache for 4 months. Multiple epidural blood patches (EBPs) yielded relief of symptoms, but the course was complicated, with asymptomatic intracranial subdural hematoma (SDH). Except for SDH, other radiological diagnostic signs of SIH were resolved and the patient's headaches improved after EBP. Owing to a mass effect and persistent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, surgical repair of the spinal leakage was performed, but no cranial procedures were carried out. Postoperatively, the SDH completely resolved, but there was still CSF leakage at the level where surgery was performed. The patient has remained free of headache or other events for 3 years. It was reduction rather than elimination of the spinal CSF leak that yielded remission of SIH. In summary, intracranial SDH can be a complication of inadequately treated SIH (i.e. persistent minor CSF leakage). Management of SDH should focus on correction of the underlying SIH rather than craniotomy for hematoma evacuation., (Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V.)