[Prognostic factors for therapeutic outcome in normal-pressure hydrocephalus. Review of the literature and personal study].

In view of the unpredictable percentage of NPH patients who benefit from surgery and the risk of postoperative complications, the study of predictive parameters appears essential. The literature shows many conflicting results in studies which focus on predictive values. The present study is based on a series of 63 patients, all of whom underwent surgery for NPH. Fifty one historical, clinical, paraclinical and neuropsychological parameters were submitted to statistical analysis on the basis of the postoperative results. Nine of these parameters were correlated with the postoperative evolution: aetiology, chronic alcoholism and seven neuropsychological signs, in particular verbal signs. A statistical analysis by logistical regression allows us to describe an optimum predictive model. The most significant results are discussed.