title: Saccadic and smooth-pursuit eye movement in neurootological diagnostic procedures.
abstract: The origin of the generation of saccadic and smooth-pursuit eye movements has not been proved. The goal of the study reported here was to search for the connection of visuooculomotor reactions--saccades and eye-tracking test--with cerebellar damage. Using electronystagmography, we tested 11 patients treated with aminoglycosides because of pneumonia. After a mean of 21 days of pharmacological therapy, a neurological examination revealed cerebellar disability in all cases. On the basis of our previous studies, we suspected cortical Purkinje cell damage. In all tested patients, saccadic movements were disturbed: We observed overshoot, undershoot, and prolonged latencies. In seven patients, eye-tracking test results were not correct: We noted the degradation of the sinusoidal pattern most often. The results pointed to a connection between the generation of these two tested visuooculomotor reactions with cerebellar diseases possibly located in the cortex.
authors.affiliation: Ludwik Rydygier University School of Medical Sciences, Bydgoszcz, Poland. osinskak1@wp.pl
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pawlak-Osińska
authors.forename: Henryk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaźmierczak
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kaźmierczak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004584:Electronystagmography; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D011698:Pursuit, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time; D012438:Saccades / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins