Ischaemic oculomotor nerve palsy. Clinical features and vascular risk factors in 23 patients.
Of 61 patients with isolated third nerve palsy, 23 (38%) had the characteristic clinical features of an ischaemic oculomotor nerve palsy. The essential sign of this usually painful disorder of acute onset was a marked discrepancy between complete or severe paresis of the extraocular muscles innervated by the third nerve, and sparing of the pupillary sphincter. All patients had completely recovered within 3 months. Fourteen had a history or on follow-up had other cranial mononeuropathies. Except for two patients, all were above the age of 60 years. Of the 23 cases, 11 had diabetes mellitus and 8 an abnormal glucose tolerance test, while in 4 the latter was normal. Almost all had hypertension and were overweight, and half were smokers. In 18 patients, four or five vascular risk factors were present.
D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D009802:Oculomotor Nerve / Q000098:blood supply*; D009886:Ophthalmoplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012306:Risk; D012438:Saccades; D012907:Smoking
D002784:Cholesterol