What is Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus?
NPH is a clinical syndrome that is characterized by gait apraxia (a disorder of voluntary movement
incontinence (lack of bladder control) and dementia (deterioration of intellectual faculties). Although the cause of NPH is not known in most cases, some patients with NPH have a history of closed head injury or subarachnoid hemorrhage. In all NPH cases, enlarged ventricles are seen in the context of minimal atrophy of the brain. Therefore, the increase in ventricle size is not due to tissue loss, but rather due to changes in CSF (cerebral spinal fluid).
NPH is a clinical syndrome that is characterized by gait apraxia (a disorder of voluntary movement
incontinence (lack of bladder control) and dementia (deterioration of intellectual faculties). Although the cause of NPH is not known in most cases, some patients with NPH have a history of closed head injury or subarachnoid hemorrhage. In all NPH cases, enlarged ventricles are seen in the context of minimal atrophy of the brain. Therefore, the increase in ventricle size is not due to tissue loss, but rather due to changes in CSF (cerebral spinal fluid).
Diagnosing NPH
Currently, NPH is diagnosed in 4 ways:
from symptoms
listed above
imaging
the brain
the brain
lumbar
puncture
puncture
catheter
drainage of CSF
drainage of CSF
Historically, NPH has often been overlooked or dismissed without treatment because of the difficulty
in accurately diagnosing the condition, and a perceived high risk of neurosurgical intervention. As
the population ages, and more patients become afflicted with NPH, much more attention is being
focused on accurately diagnosing and safely treating this condition. Although historically a number
of diagnostic tests have been applied, most have not accurately predicted the patient’s response to
the placement of a ventricular shunt, the neurosurgical standard of care.
MCG Medical Center is the leading patient care facility in the Southeast for treating NPH. If you
believe you have NPH, we’d like to help. Call us at 706-721-7923 for more information.
We look forward to meeting you.
All content on this site is copyright 2005 John R. Vender, M.D., All rights reserved.
