Pregnancy can exacerbate the symptoms of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and hydrocephalus due to increases in abdominal pressure. Non-invasive monitoring of intracranial pressure waveforms (ICPw) may provide insights into the neurophysiology of these conditions during pregnancy. The present case series describes two pregnant patients with IIH and hydrocephalus, who were monitored with a non-invasive device to assess changes in their P2/P1 ratios during pregnancy.

Two pregnant patients, one with IIH and one with hydrocephalus, were monitored with a non-invasive device to assess changes in their P2/P1 ratios during pregnancy. Symptoms were also evaluated.

Both patients showed an increase in their P2/P1 ratios during pregnancy, which correlated with progressively worsening symptoms. After delivery, both patients showed improvement in symptoms, as well as a normalization of their P2/P1 ratios.

The present case series suggests that non-invasive monitoring of ICPw can provide insights into the neurophysiology of IIH and hydrocephalus during pregnancy. The increase in P2/P1 ratios during pregnancy may be indicative of worsening symptoms, and normalization of P2/P1 ratios after delivery may be coincide with symptom improvement. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings and translate them into clinical use, such the ability to have baseline parameters that may help with faster identification of shunt dysfunction, for example.