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Although the posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is considered to have a benign clinical outcome, the presentation of PRES can be associated with life-threatening complications such as severe cerebral hemorrhage, cerebellar herniation and refractory status epilepticus (SE). The aim of this paper is to report incidence, clinical features and outcome of life-threatening complications related to PRES in children.

Patients who suffered from life-threatening complications were retrospectively identified from a group composed by 27 consecutive children diagnosed with PRES in our hospital between 2000 and 2012. The clinical, radiological and EEG features and the outcome of these patients were evaluated and compared to the characteristics of patients with no complications.

Five patients (18%) presented life-threatening complications: 2 cerebral hemorrhages with mass …