Neurológia pre prax 4/2016

Pathophysiology, classification and supplementary tests in normal pressure hydrocephalus

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a disease of an elderly people. It is characterized by ventricular enlargement, normal pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid and progressive onset of gait disturbance, dementia and incontinency. The treatment is known (shunt surgery), but there are still controversies in the pathophysiology, thus in the optimal diagnostic algorithm. One of the crucial problems of NPH is underdiagnosing. The majority of NPH patients is not diagnosed and not treated properly. The aim of this review article is to draw attention to this disease and to summarize current knowledge about the pathophysiology, classification and supplementary tests.

Keywords: normal pressure hydrocephalus, pathophysiology, classification, supplementary tests