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Inferior rectus palsy as an isolated ocular motor sign: acquired etiologies and outcome

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Abstract

The aim of this work is to elucidate underlying etiologies, lesion locations, and outcomes of inferior rectus (IR) palsy of acquired origin. Retrospective search identified 44 patients with acquired IR palsy between April 2006 and May 2011 from four Neurology and two Ophthalmology Clinics in Korea. We analyzed clinical features, the results of radiological and laboratory evaluation, and prognosis. The most common causes were vascular (n = 16, 36 %) and trauma (n = 12, 27 %). Vascular disorders included microvascular ischemia (n = 10, 23 %), cerebral infarction (n = 5, 11 %), and dural arterio-venous fistula (n = 1, 2 %). Other causes were inflammation (n = 7, 16 %), myasthenia gravis (n = 5, 11 %), and thyroid ophthalmopathy (n = 1, 2 %). We were unable to determine the etiology in the remaining three patients (7 %). Most patients (95 %) showed a complete recovery with or without treatment. Acquired IR palsy mostly occurs with brainstem or orbital lesions, and has an excellent prognosis.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Medical Research Institute Grant (2007–08), Pusan National University, and a grant of the Korean Heath Technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (A070001).

Conflicts of interest

We have no disclosure of any competing interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biomedical Research Institute, Busan, Korea

    Kwang-Dong Choi

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biomedical Research Institute, Busan, Korea

    Hee Young Choi

  3. Department of Neurology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biomedical Research Institute, Yangsan, Korea

    Jae-Hwan Choi

  4. Department of Neurology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 300 Gumi-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, 463-707, Korea

    Young-Eun Huh, Hyo Jung Kim & Ji Soo Kim

  5. Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea

    Jeong-Min Hwang

  6. Department of Neurology, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Chonbuk National University School of Medicine and Biomedical Research Institute , Jeonju, Korea

    Sun-Young Oh

  7. Department of Neurology, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea

    Seong-Hae Jeong

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  1. Kwang-Dong Choi
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  2. Jae-Hwan Choi
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  3. Hee Young Choi
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  4. Young-Eun Huh
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  5. Hyo Jung Kim
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  7. Seong-Hae Jeong
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  8. Jeong-Min Hwang
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  9. Ji Soo Kim
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ji Soo Kim.

Additional information

K.-D. Choi and J.-H. Choi contributed equally to this work.

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Choi, KD., Choi, JH., Choi, H.Y. et al. Inferior rectus palsy as an isolated ocular motor sign: acquired etiologies and outcome. J Neurol 260, 47–54 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-012-6582-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-012-6582-7

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