PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Mollan, Susan P
AU  - Tahrani, Abd A
AU  - Sinclair, Alexandra J
TI  - The Potentially Modifiable Risk Factor in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: Body Weight
AID  - 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000001063
DP  - 2021 Mar 02
TA  - Neurology: Clinical Practice
PG  - 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000001063
4099  - http://cp.neurology.org/content/early/2021/03/02/CPJ.0000000000001063.short
4100  - http://cp.neurology.org/content/early/2021/03/02/CPJ.0000000000001063.full
AB  - Purpose of review: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) prevalence increased in conjunction with rising obesity rates. Here, we highlight the importance of weigh management in IIH, and introduce glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RA) as potential treatment strategy for IIH.Recent findings: Weight gain is a risk factor for IIH; and weight loss (via any treatment strategy) plays a key role in IIH management. GLP-1 is an incretin secreted by the distal small intestine in response to a meal. GLP-1 RA have been shown to improve glycaemic control (no. hypoglycaemia) and lower body weight in patients with and without type 2 diabetes. The choroid plexus has been found to express GLP-1 receptors and treatment with a GLP-1 RA significantly reduces cerebrospinal fluid secretion in vitro and intracranial pressure in rodents.Summary: New research evaluating the pathophysiology of IIH supports GLP-1 RA as a potential treatment for IIH via weight loss dependant and independent mechanism to directly reduce intracranial pressure.