Microvascular cranial nerve palsies in an Arabic population

The incidence of microvascular ocular cranial nerve palsies may be increasing with the prevalence of diabetes in the developing world. We review this problem for the first time in an Arabic population.

This is a prospective nonrandomized study of all patients with the diagnosis of microvascular cranial mononeuropathy seen in the Neuro-ophthalmology Clinic at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital between September 1997 and April 1998.

Forty-seven patients with microvascular palsies of cranial nerves 3, 4, or 6 were seen in this 8-month period. Compared to previous studies, this group had a stronger association with previously diagnosed diabetes mellitus, more males affected, and a longer duration of the cranial nerve palsy before complete resolution. Five patients had an unusual clinical course that included a second microvascular cranial mononeuropathy before the first palsy completely resolved.

Microvascular cranial nerve palsies may occur more frequently in this Arabic population than elsewhere and may have certain unusual features.