Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH): lumbar puncture

Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH): lumbar puncture. Normal opening pressure in adults: <25 cmH20. Fully referenced neurology checklist.

Normal opening pressures

  • Normal opening pressure in adults: <25 cmH20
  • Normal opening pressure in children: <28 cmH20 in children
  • Normal opening pressures are higher in younger people
  • Opening pressures are higher with larger body mass index (BMI)

Lumbar puncture (LP): procedure

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Lumbar puncture (LP): complications

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References

  1. Hoffmann J, Mollan SP, Paemeleire K, Lampl C, Jensen RH, Sinclair AJ. European headache federation guideline on idiopathic intracranial hypertension. J Headache Pain 2018; 19:93.
  2. Wang F, Lesser ER, Cutsforth-Gregory JK, et al. Population-based evaluation of lumbar puncture opening pressures. Front Neurol 2019; 10:899.
  3. Perloff MD, Parikh SK, Fiorito-Torres F, McAdams MT, Rayhill ML. Cerebrospinal fluid removal for idiopathic intracranial hypertension: less cerebrospinal fluid is best. J Neuroophthalmol 2019; 39:330-332. 
  4. Rochwerg B, Almenawer SA, Siemieniuk RAC, et al. Atraumatic (pencil-point) versus conventional needles for lumbar puncture: a clinical practice guideline. BMJ 2018; 361:k1920.

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