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Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure Updated 3/2011

Dennis E. Hughes, DO
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BASICS

  • Description
  • Epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Pathophysiology
  • Etiology

DIAGNOSIS

  • Signs and Symptoms
  • Tests
  • Differential Diagnosis

TREATMENT

  • Medication (Drugs)
  • Additional Treatment
  • Surgery
  • In-patient Considerations

Ongoing Care

  • Follow-Up Recommendations
  • Patient Education
  • Prognosis
  • Complications
The following is an excerpt....
BASICS
Description
  • Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a clinical triad of gait instability, incontinence, and dementia (mnemonic: wet, wobbly, wacky). Originally described by Hakim and Adams in 1965, it occurs rarely, but is potentially treatable.
  • Idiopathic
  • Secondary to subarachnoid hemorrhage, head injury, or infection
ALERT: Geriatric Considerations
  • Idiopathic NPH primarily affects persons >60 years.
Epidemiology
Incidence
  • No formal epidemiologic data exist regarding NPH because of the lack of consensus-derived diagnostic criteria. The natural history of untreated NPH has not been studied (1,2).
  • Idiopathic form primarily affects elderly.
  • Secondary form can occur at any age.
  • Affects both genders equally
Prevalence

Estimated to be the cause of dementia in ≤5% of affected individuals

Risk Factors
  • Idiopathic risk is unknown.
  • Secondary ...

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See Also
DDx/Tx Algorithms >