[Electro-oculographic features of persons with vitamin E deficiency].
BACKGROUND
Vitamin E (VE) deficiency is a very rare condition which may be due to an isolated deficit or be in the context of a malabsorption disorder.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the findings from an electrooculographic (EOG) point of view of patients with VE deficiency.


METHODS
We made a retrospective evaluation of all persons with a neurological diagnosis of VE seen in the otoneurological department of our hospital. In all patients an EOG recording was made of the saccadic jerks, and the spontaneous, provoked, positional and opticokinetic (NOC) mystagmus, visual suppression of the vestibulo ocular reflex (VOR) and follow up.


RESULTS
We found four cases, with an average age of 9.2 years (range 6 14 years). All the patients but one were male (75%). The EOG findings were related to cerebellar dysfunction (saccadic following) and central nervous system alterations of no value for localization (ataxic following and visual suppression of the VOR). In two patients no anomalies were seen on the EOG recording.


CONCLUSIONS
In persons with VE deficiency EOG alterations are not often seen. However, it may be useful to make the recording when it is thought necessary to detect subclinical cerebellar disorders.
Prim
M P
MP
Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, España. jidediegompprim@eresmas.net
de Diego
J I
JI
Martínez-Salio
A
A
de Sarria
M J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D004585:Electrooculography / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012438:Saccades / Q000502:physiology; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*