Three-year outcome of shunted idiopathic NPH patients.

The incidence of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) has increased as a result of improved longevity. This report describes the 3-year outcome of shunted iNPH patients compared to three-month outcome after shunting. Patients (n = 50) (Age 70.4 +/- 8.9) admitted to our service were diagnosed and treated according to a fixed protocol for management of iNPH and after shunting were followed at least three times per year in clinic. The outcome of 50 patients was graded according to the level of improvement in symptoms as Excellent/Good, Partial or None in each category of Gait, Incontinence and Dementia. If we lump favorable (excellent, good, partial recovery) vs poor recovery (none), we found from 3 months to 3 years, a moderate decline in gait performance (91% to 75%), a retention of memory improvement (80%-80%) and an improvement in incontinence occurred over time (70%-82.5%). With proper diagnosis and management of iNPH, shunting of patients is associated with a favorable risk/benefit ratio that is reasonably long lasting.