Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome: a rare cause of postpartum headache.

We describe two women presenting with severe postpartum headache associated with hypertension but with no other signs or investigation results to suggest pre-eclampsia. In one case, the headache was associated with atypical subarachnoid haemorrhage. The variable nature of the headache and the degree of associated hypertension raised the clinical suspicion of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, confirmed on MR angiography. Both patients took nimodipine until the cerebral vasoconstriction had resolved radiologically. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.