Work

An Association Between Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome and Severe Hypercapnia in Chronic CO₂ Retention

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We discuss a 60-year-old male with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on home oxygen and chronic carbon dioxide (CO₂) retention who initially presented with hypoxemic and hypercapnic respiratory failure and subsequent development of acute encephalopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed vasogenic edema in the bilateral occipital lobes. Management with increasing supplemental oxygen and nightly bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) led to rapid neurological improvement. A repeat brain MRI of the brain six days later showed improving edema in the bilateral occipital lobes. This case highlights acute and severe hypercapnia as a potentially uncommon and under-recognized trigger of PRES. It further underscores that prompt correction of hypercapnia can rapidly improve both clinical and radiographic manifestations of PRES.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.98256

Authors: Cameron Yen, Linda Chun, Jay Mahajan, Aroucha Vickers

Institution: Valley Hospital Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Neurological Complications and Syndromes

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4416884717