Aetiology

Those in whom a direct causal link between venous outflow obstruction and CSF absorption is demonstrable:

• sagittal sinus thrombosis
• lateral sinus thrombosis usually secondary to mastoiditis
• intrathoracic mass lesion
• congestive cardiac failure
• following neck surgery

Idiopathic:

minor head trauma

endocrine disturbance:

• Addison's disease
• pregnancy
• menarche & menstrual irregularities
• Cushing's syndrome
• hypothyroidism
• hypoparathyroidism
  

• haematological:
  • polycythaemia vera
  • iron deficiency anaemia
  • infectious mononucleosis
    
    
• drugs:
  • antibiotics such as tetracyclines, nalixidic acid or nitrofurantoin
  • oral contraceptives
  • steroid withdrawal
    
    
• dietary:
  • obesity
  • excess or deficiency of vitamin A
    
    
• miscellaneous:
  • Sydenham's chorea
  • roseola infantum

Reference

1. Wall M. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Neurol Clin. 2010 Aug;28(3):593-617.