A case of acquired nystagmus alternans associated with acute cerebellitis.
A case of acquired nystagmus alternans (alternating nystagmus) is reported. The patient was a 14-year-old boy who presented with fever and headache, followed by dysbasia, truncal ataxia, and positional vertigo. Neuro-otological examinations revealed spontaneous downbeat nystagmus, bilateral gaze nystagmus and rebound nystagmus. Both cell count and protein volume were elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid, and a diagnosis of cerebellitis was made. About one month later, nystagmus alternans was observed, but it disappeared after 7 months. The presence of spontaneous downbeat nystagmus, rebound nystagmus, as well as cerebellar signs indicated that a cerebellar lesion was mainly responsible for the nystagmus alternans in this patient.
Department of Otolaryngology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
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Y
Yoshimoto
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S
Koyama
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000150:complications*; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology