Ice test in diagnosis of ocular myasthenia

This observational, non-control, non equivalent pretest and post test descriptive study was carried out at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh from June 2009 to December 2009 to compare the efficacy of ice test and repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) in diagnosis of ocular myasthenia gravis. Ten patients with fluctuating ptosis (4 male and 6 female) who were suspected of having ocular myasthenia were included in the study. Male and female ratio in the study was 2:3. The mean age of the patients was 28.1 years. Positive response to pyridostigmine was taken as confirmation of ocular myasthenia. A piece of ice (2cm × 1cm) was placed over the upper eyelid for 2 minutes and the vertical eye lid fissure height was noted before and after the application of ice. Repetitive nerve stimulation was performed in the same subjects subsequently. Results of two tests were compared. Eight patients shows good (>2mm) elevation of eyelid with ice and three patients had abnormal RNS. In conclusion, ice test appears as more sensitive clinical test to detect ocular myasthenia than RNS test.