Benign intracranial hypertension induced by deficiency of vitamin A during infancy

An 8-month-old boy showed clinical signs of sustained elevated intracranial pressure, associated with minimally enlarged ventricles and normal brain parenchyma on CT. The diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri was confirmed by finding CSF of normal composition at pressures averaging 245 mm H2O. The infant had undetectable levels of retinol and carotene in his serum, indicating severe deficiency of vitamin A. A causal relationship between intracranial hypertension and the vitamin deficiency was established, when both clinical findings and CSF pressure became normal after 2 months of parenteral therapy with vitamin A.