Cerebral edema

Cerebral edema is excess accumulation of fluid (edema) in the intracellular or extracellular spaces of the brain. Cerebral edema is excess accumulation of fluid (edema) in the intracellular or extracellular spaces of the brain. Most changes in morphology are associated with cerebral edema: the brain becomes soft and smooth and overfills the cranial vault, gyri become flattened, sulci become narrowed, and ventricular cavities become compressed. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, faintness, and in severe cases, seizures and coma. If brain herniation occurs, respiratory symptoms or respiratory arrest can also occur due to compression of the respiratory centres in the pons and medulla oblongata. Cerebral edema can result from brain trauma or from nontraumatic causes such as ischemic stroke, cancer, or brain inflammation due to meningitis or encephalitis. Vasogenic edema caused by amyloid-modifying treatments, such as monoclonal antibodies, is known as ARIA-E (amyloid-related imaging abnormalities edema). The blood–brain barrier (BBB) or the blood–cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier may break down, allowing fluid to accumulate in the brain's extracellular space. One manifestation of this is P.R.E.S., or Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome. Altered metabolism may cause brain cells to retain water, and dilution of the blood plasma may cause excess water to move into brain cells. Fast travel to high altitude without proper acclimatization can cause high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE). Four types of cerebral edema have been identified: