Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: a disease rarely described in older adults

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a disease rarely described in older adults. It is characterized by subacute onset of a set of clinical and radiological signs and a variety of neurological symptoms, such as headaches, seizures, and cognitive disorders. In the vast majority of patients, clinical presentation includes high blood pressure and hypertensive emergency. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard for diagnosing this condition using imaging findings. When the underlying cause is promptly recognized and treated, symptoms and imaging abnormalities may be completely reversible. The authors report the clinical case of an 87-year-old woman first admitted for treatment of community-acquired pneumonia. She returned to the emergency department 24 hours after discharge presenting with complex visual and neurological symptoms. An MRI scan showed lesions of bilateral occipital hypodensities, suggestive of vasogenic edema and compatible with PRES. Complete regression of brain lesions was observed after tight control of hypertension.