Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain
Published on: July 24, 2016
Transient supranuclear paresis of the abduction in viral encephalitis of the brainstem
Alessandra Rufa1, Alfonso Cerase, Pasquale Annunziata
1Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche e del Comportamento, Università di Siena, Viale Bracci 2, 53100, Siena, Italy. rufa@unisi.it
Abstract:
The supranuclear paresis of the abducens system, also known as posterior internuclear ophthalmoplegia of abduction, is a very rare disorder clinically characterized by unilateral or bilateral abduction paresis sometimes associated with nystagmus of the contralateral adducting eye, slowing of abduction saccades, and intact horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex. Here, we report a 35-year-old woman who presented transient left side abduction deficit in conjunction, as the only symptom of self-limited viral encephalitis of the brainstem. Brain MRI including DWI and ADC maps showed an area of abnormal signal intensity in the mid-right ponto-mesencephalic junction. PCR analysis of cerebrospinal fluid showed an enterovirus infection. Spontaneous clinical recovery rapidly occurred 2 days after onset. The brainstem lesion was undetectable at 5-week brain MRI follow-up.
Related Concept Videos
Encephalitis l: Introduction
Arboviral Encephalitis
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology
Viral Meningitis
Poliomyelitis
Transient Ischemic Attack l: Introduction
