Recurrent Diplopia in a Pediatric Patient with Bickerstaff Brainstem Encephalitis

Introduction. Acute complete external ophthalmoplegia is a rare finding in clinical practice that is associated with diseases affecting the neuromuscular junction, the oculomotor nerves, or the brainstem. Ophthalmoplegia has been reported with acute ataxia in Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) and Bickers...

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Main Authors: Scott A. McLeod, Wallace Wee, Francois D. Jacob, Isabelle Chapados, Francois V. Bolduc
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Neurological Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5240274
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author Scott A. McLeod
Wallace Wee
Francois D. Jacob
Isabelle Chapados
Francois V. Bolduc
author_facet Scott A. McLeod
Wallace Wee
Francois D. Jacob
Isabelle Chapados
Francois V. Bolduc
author_sort Scott A. McLeod
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. Acute complete external ophthalmoplegia is a rare finding in clinical practice that is associated with diseases affecting the neuromuscular junction, the oculomotor nerves, or the brainstem. Ophthalmoplegia has been reported with acute ataxia in Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) and Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis (BBE). Up to 95% of these cases are associated with anti-GQ1b antibodies. Only a small number of cases of anti-GQ1b negative MFS have been documented in pediatric patients. This is the first case reporting a recurrence of ocular symptoms in an anti-GQ1b antibody negative patient with BBE. Case Presentation. An 8-year-old Caucasian boy presented with complete external ophthalmoplegia without ptosis, cerebellar ataxia, and a disturbance of consciousness. He had recently recovered from a confirmed Campylobacter jejuni infection. On subsequent laboratory testing he was anti-GQ1b antibody negative. He had a recurrence of diplopia at four-week follow-up. Conclusions. This patient’s recurrence of diplopia was treated with a five-week course of oral corticosteroids which did not worsen his condition, and this may be a therapeutic option for similar patients. We will discuss the symptoms and treatment of reported pediatric cases of anti-GQ1b antibody negative cases of MFS and the variation between cases representing a spectrum of illness.
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spelling doaj-art-d84809dac0a94fcb926f7e226bbd7a042025-02-03T05:46:49ZengWileyCase Reports in Neurological Medicine2090-66682090-66762016-01-01201610.1155/2016/52402745240274Recurrent Diplopia in a Pediatric Patient with Bickerstaff Brainstem EncephalitisScott A. McLeod0Wallace Wee1Francois D. Jacob2Isabelle Chapados3Francois V. Bolduc4Section of Developmental Pediatrics, Alberta Children’s Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, CanadaDepartment of Pediatrics, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, CanadaDepartment of Pediatrics, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, CanadaDepartment of Pediatrics, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, CanadaDepartment of Pediatrics, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, CanadaIntroduction. Acute complete external ophthalmoplegia is a rare finding in clinical practice that is associated with diseases affecting the neuromuscular junction, the oculomotor nerves, or the brainstem. Ophthalmoplegia has been reported with acute ataxia in Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) and Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis (BBE). Up to 95% of these cases are associated with anti-GQ1b antibodies. Only a small number of cases of anti-GQ1b negative MFS have been documented in pediatric patients. This is the first case reporting a recurrence of ocular symptoms in an anti-GQ1b antibody negative patient with BBE. Case Presentation. An 8-year-old Caucasian boy presented with complete external ophthalmoplegia without ptosis, cerebellar ataxia, and a disturbance of consciousness. He had recently recovered from a confirmed Campylobacter jejuni infection. On subsequent laboratory testing he was anti-GQ1b antibody negative. He had a recurrence of diplopia at four-week follow-up. Conclusions. This patient’s recurrence of diplopia was treated with a five-week course of oral corticosteroids which did not worsen his condition, and this may be a therapeutic option for similar patients. We will discuss the symptoms and treatment of reported pediatric cases of anti-GQ1b antibody negative cases of MFS and the variation between cases representing a spectrum of illness.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5240274
spellingShingle Scott A. McLeod
Wallace Wee
Francois D. Jacob
Isabelle Chapados
Francois V. Bolduc
Recurrent Diplopia in a Pediatric Patient with Bickerstaff Brainstem Encephalitis
Case Reports in Neurological Medicine
title Recurrent Diplopia in a Pediatric Patient with Bickerstaff Brainstem Encephalitis
title_full Recurrent Diplopia in a Pediatric Patient with Bickerstaff Brainstem Encephalitis
title_fullStr Recurrent Diplopia in a Pediatric Patient with Bickerstaff Brainstem Encephalitis
title_full_unstemmed Recurrent Diplopia in a Pediatric Patient with Bickerstaff Brainstem Encephalitis
title_short Recurrent Diplopia in a Pediatric Patient with Bickerstaff Brainstem Encephalitis
title_sort recurrent diplopia in a pediatric patient with bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5240274
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