Stenting versus medical treatment for idiopathic intracranial hypertension: a matched-control study

J Neurointerv Surg. 2023 Oct;15(10):1021-1026. doi: 10.1136/jnis-2022-019191. Epub 2022 Oct 6.

Abstract

Background: This prospective cohort study compared the outcomes of stenting and medical treatment for patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and venous sinus stenosis (VSS).

Methods: In this single-center cohort study, patients with IIH and VSS were evaluated between January 2014 and December 2019 with follow-up periods of 1, 3, and 6 months. The patients received either stenting or medical treatment. The two groups underwent 1:1 matching using propensity score analysis, and the clinical outcomes were compared.

Results: Following 1:1 matching, 36 patients who underwent stenting and 36 who underwent medical treatment were matched. The median improvements in the papilledema Frisén grade were greater in the stenting group at 1 month (-2 vs 0), 3 months (-3 vs -1), and 6 months (-3 vs -1) than in the medical treatment group. Patients who received stenting treatment had a significantly higher prevalence of complete resolution of their respective symptoms (headache, tinnitus, or visual disturbances) at 3 months (58.3% vs 13.9%, OR 8.68, 95% CI 2.74 to 27.52) and 6 months (80.6% vs 22.2%, OR 14.50, 95% CI 4.64 to 45.32) than those receiving medical treatment.

Conclusions: This matched-control study shows that stenting has a greater efficacy rate and rapid resolution of papilledema and its respective symptoms compared with medical treatment.

Keywords: stenosis; vein.

MeSH terms

  • Cohort Studies
  • Constriction, Pathologic / etiology
  • Cranial Sinuses
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Hypertension* / therapy
  • Papilledema* / therapy
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pseudotumor Cerebri* / etiology
  • Pseudotumor Cerebri* / surgery
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Stents / adverse effects
  • Treatment Outcome