Sequential occurrence of eclampsia-associated posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and reversible splenial lesion syndrome (a case report): proposal of a novel pathogenesis for reversible splenial lesion syndrome

BACKGROUND: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare clinic-radiological entity characterized by headache, an altered mental status, visual disturbances, and seizures. Reversible splenial lesion syndrome (RESLES) is a new clinic-radiological syndrome characterized by the presence of reversible lesions with transiently restricted diffusion (cytotoxic edema) in the splenium of the corpus callosum (SCC) on magnetic resonance (MR) images. Here we report a rare case involving a 23-year-old pregnant woman with eclampsia who sequentially developed PRES and RESLES. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient, a 23-year-old pregnant woman, presented with sudden-onset headache, dizziness, and severe hypertension (blood pressure, 170/110 mmHg). Brain MR imaging (MRI) revealed T2 hyperintense lesions in the posterior circulation territories. Immediate cesarean section was performed, and the patient received intravenous infusion of mannitol (125 ml, q8h) for 8 days for the treatment of PRES. Ten days later, or 1 day after the discontinuation of mannitol, T2-weighted MRI showed that the hyperintense lesions (vasogenic edema) had disappeared. However, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping revealed an isolated lesion in the splenium of the corpus callosum (SCC) that was accompanied by restricted diffusion (cytotoxic edema); these findings indicated reversible splenial lesion syndrome (RESLES). Five days after the discontinuation of mannitol, she had no abnormal symptoms and was discharged from our hospital. Brain MRI performed 29 days after the clinical onset of symptoms showed no abnormalities. CONCLUSION: The sequential occurrence of the two reversible diseases in our patient prompted us to propose a novel pathogenesis for RESLES. Specifically, we believe that the vasogenic edema in PRES was reduced with mannitol treatment, which increased the hyperosmotic stress and opened the blood–brain barrier; meanwhile, upregulation of aquaporin-4 expression secondary to the increased osmotic pressure resulted in cytotoxic edema in the astrocytes in SCC (RESLES). Further research is necessary to confirm this possible pathogenesis.