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Bedside tested ocular motor disorders in multiple sclerosis patients
G Servillo1, D Renard2, G Taieb2
1Department of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34100 Trieste, Italy ; Service de Neurologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Caremeau, 30029 Nîmes, France.
Multiple Sclerosis International
|May 31, 2014
Summary
Ocular motor disorders (OMDs) are common in multiple sclerosis (MS), affecting nearly 70% of patients. A simple eye movement exam can reveal these issues, aiding MS diagnosis and management.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Ocular motor disorders (OMDs) are frequently observed in multiple sclerosis (MS) but often underdiagnosed.
- Underdiagnosis leads to an underestimation of OMD prevalence in MS patients.
- Early identification of OMDs is crucial for comprehensive MS care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and types of OMDs in patients with MS.
- To investigate the association between OMDs and MS disability and MRI findings.
- To highlight the diagnostic and management implications of bedside eye movement examinations.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 163 patients with definite MS or clinically isolated syndrome underwent detailed eye movement examinations.
- Data collected included patient demographics, MS subtype, disease duration, EDSS scores, and MRI lesion locations.
- Statistical analysis was performed to correlate OMDs with clinical and radiological MS characteristics.
Main Results:
- 68.1% of MS patients exhibited at least one OMD.
- Impaired smooth pursuit and saccadic dysmetria were the most common OMDs.
- OMDs were significantly associated with greater MS disability and infratentorial MRI lesions.
Conclusions:
- OMDs are highly prevalent in stable MS, indicating subclinical disease.
- Bedside ocular motility assessment is valuable for detecting OMDs in MS.
- Identifying OMDs can impact MS diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment strategies.
