title: Isolated sixth nerve palsy: an uncommon presenting sign of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: We describe three patients in whom an isolated sixth nerve palsy was the only clinical symptom or sign of multiple sclerosis (MS). Data were collected prospectively over 6 years on these three patients, who showed no other signs of brainstem dysfunction or prior symptoms; in addition. Retrospective analysis of all patients with MS and all patients with sixth nerve palsy referred to a neuro-ophthalmology service between 1982 and 1998 showed isolated sixth nerve palsy to be the presenting sign of MS in only 0.5% of these patients. MS was the cause of isolated sixth nerve palsy in 0.8% of all patients and in 1.6% of those aged 18-50 years. Although it has been previously suggested that sixth nerve palsy is a not uncommon presenting sign of MS, our results suggest it is rare.
authors.affiliation: Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kupersmith
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Turbin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bose
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roth
mesh_terms: D020434:Abducens Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis