posterior leucoencephalopathy syndrome

posterior leucoencephalopathy syndrome

A serious brain disorder featuring oedema of the white matter of the rear parts of the cerebral hemispheres demonstrable on CT scanning and magnetic resonance imaging. The syndrome features headache, visual disturbances, vomiting, confusion and seizures, and the possible causes include eclampsia, severe hypertension and treatment with immunosuppressive drugs such as CYCLOSPORIN (ciclosporin), interferon-alfa, and TACROLIMUS. Also known as the posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES).