Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is an infrequent cerebrovascular disorder characterized by severe headaches with or without focal neurological deficits or seizures, and a reversible segmental and multifocal vasoconstriction of cerebral arteries.

Epidemiology

RCVS occurs predominantly in females before the age of 50.

Clinical description

The most common clinical feature of RCVS is severe acute headache. The major complication of RCVS is ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.

Etiology

The exact pathophysiology of RCVS remains unknown and the prevailing hypothesis involves a transient disturbance in the control of cerebral vascular tone. RCVS may occur spontaneously or be provoked by various precipitating factors, the most common being postpartum and exposure to various vasoactive substances such as illicit drugs and selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors.