Complicated Preeclampsia; A rare case of concurrent PRES and CRVS

Author(s): Dr Thomas Cunningham, Dr Huyam Mahmoud, Dr Awad Elkarim, Dr Ziena Abdullah

This case report explores the rare occurrence of simultaneous Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) and Cerebral Reversible Vasoconstriction Syndrome (CRVS) in a 32-year-old primigravida at 37 weeks' gestation with pre-eclampsia, requiring emergency caesarean section. This rare case highlights the overlapping clinical and radiographic features of PRES and CRVS, proposing shared pathophysiological mechanisms involving cerebral autoregulation failure and blood-brain barrier disruption. Discussion explores differential diagnoses, emphasizing the challenges of promptly diagnosing pre-eclampsia-associated neurological complications using an inter-disciplinary approach with specific attention to the interplay in treatment approach for PRES and CRVS.