title: Acquired pendular nystagmus in multiple sclerosis: clinical observations and the role of optic neuropathy.
abstract: Thirty seven patients with pendular nystagmus due to multiple sclerosis were reviewed. Most developed nystagmus later in a progressive phase of the disease. All had cerebellar signs on examination and evidence of optic neuropathy. MRI in eight patients showed cerebellar or brainstem lesions in seven; the most consistent finding was a lesion in the dorsal pontine tegmentum. Dissociated nystagmus was seen in 18 patients: in these the signs of optic neuropathy were often asymmetric and the severity correlated closely with the side with larger oscillations. This suggests that dissociations in acquired pendular nystagmus may be due to asymmetries in optic neuropathy rather than asymmetries in cerebellar or brainstem disease.
authors.affiliation: Canada Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology; D002529:Cerebellar Nuclei / Q000503:physiopathology; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015835:Ocular Motility Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D009896:Optic Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015349:Vision, Monocular / Q000502:physiology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology