Results of a small study show that women with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) have a greater drop in intracranial pressure when given bariatric surgery instead of being assigned to a community weight-management program.

However, bariatric surgery did not produce a significant difference in headache disability, visual function or papilledema grade, although it did lead to a significantly better quality of life, the UK researchers report in JAMA Neurology.

The 66 women all had active IIH and BMI of 35 or higher. Patients were randomised to either bariatric surgery or the community weight-loss program Weight Watchers.

Before enrolment in the trial, known as IIH:WT, all of the 66 volunteers had tried for six months to lose large amounts of weight but had failed to drop enough mass to see a clinical benefit. All had mild visual loss.