Acute bilateral ophthalmoparesis with pupilary areflexical mydriasis in miller-fisher syndrome treated with intravenous immunoglobulin

High-resolution MR imaging of cranial neuropathy in patients with anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome

OBJECTIVE

The value of conventional MRI in patients anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome is subject to debate. Our purpose was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of high-resolution MRI for detecting cranial nerve abnormalities in patients with anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort study enrolled 15 anti-GQ1b-positive patients diagnosed with MFS and related disorders and 17 age-matched controls, all of whom underwent high-resolution MR imaging including pre-contrast and contrast-enhanced (CE) 3D FLAIR and 3D CE T1-weighted turbo field echo (T1-TFE) between 2010 and 2016. The diagnostic performance of high-resolution MRI was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristics curve. Inter- and intraobserver agreements were calculated using kappa statistics and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), respectively.

RESULTS

Ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and hypo/areflexia were present in 100%, 60%, and 67%, respectively. Other neurologic findings included ptosis (40%), mydriasis (13%), and facial (27%) and bulbar (13%) palsy. Fourteen of sixteen (88%) MR examinations in 15 patients demonstrated at least one cranial nerve abnormality corresponding to the clinical findings. The involved cranial nerves on MRI were the IIIrd cranial nerve in 14 patients, VIth in nine, VIIth in four, Vth in one, and VIIIth in one. AUC values for detecting cranial neuropathy on high-resolution MRI were 0.938 (95% CI: 0.795-0.992) on a per patient basis. Inter- and intraobserver agreements were 0.842 and 0.945, respectively.

CONCLUSION

High-resolution 3D FLAIR and CE 3D T1-TFE MRI has high reliability and accuracy for demonstrating cranial neuropathy in patients with anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome.

Atypical Miller Fisher Syndrome with Anisocoria and Rapidly Fluctuating Pupillary Diameter

Miller Fisher syndrome is a variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome characterized by the classic triad of ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and areflexia. Pupillary involvement is common in MFS and has been reported in 35–42% of MFS patients. Although case reports have discussed isolated ophthalmoplegia as a presentation of MFS, anisocoria and rapid fluctuation of pupillary diameter have not been reported in anti-GQ1b antibody positive individuals. Here we describe an individual who presented with diplopia and was found to have progressive internal and external ophthalmoplegia with frequent fluctuations in pupillary diameter and anisocoria. These exam findings are not commonly described even in atypical presentations of MFS. The onset of symptoms was preceded by an upper respiratory infection but no gastrointestinal symptoms. Imaging and CSF studies were unremarkable; however serum levels of immunoglobulin G anti-GQ1b antibody and anti-GAD antibody were elevated confirming the diagnosis of MFS. The patient was treated with IVIG and intravenous steroids with mild resolution of external ophthalmoplegia. He did not go on to develop more typical features of MFS such as ataxia or areflexia. This demonstrates that isolated external and internal ophthalmoparesis with rapidly fluctuating pupillary diameter and associated anisocoria can be the sole manifestation of atypical MFS.

Pupillary Involvement in Miller Fisher Syndrome

Miller Fisher Syndrome is characterised by the classical triad of ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and areflexia. Ophthalmoparesis without ataxia, without areflexia, or with neither have been attributed as atypical forms of MFS. We report two patients with MFS who had tonic pupils and raised anti-GQ1b antibody titres. Bilateral dilated pupils (either tonic or fixed) can be a manifestation of MFS and anti-GQ1b immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies are useful to confirm the diagnosis in unexplained cases. The site of involvement is thought to be the ciliary ganglion or short ciliary nerves.

[Ophthalmoplegia with bilateral mydriasis]

We report the case history of a 41-year-old patient who, following bronchial infection, presented with progressive ophthalmoplegia in both eyes, dilated pupils unresponsive to light or convergence and ataxia. The suspected diagnosis of Miller-Fisher syndrome was confirmed by the detection of anti-ganglioside GQ1b antibodies.