[Clinical features of 19 cases of Fisher syndrome]

To determine the clinical symptoms of Fisher syndrome (FS).

We performed a retrospective study of 19 patients who had been diagnosed as having FS.

The study involved 19 patients (13 men and 6 women) whose mean age of onset was 42.0 years. Ophthalmoplegia included 16 cases of abducens nerve palsy, 2 cases of total external ophthalmoplegia, and 1 combined case of abducens nerve palsy and impaired eye elevation. Although all cases of abducens nerve palsy were bilateral, in 5 cases the degree of the affliction was asymmetric. Other neurologic symptoms included 5 cases of nystamus, 5 cases of pain on eye movement, 5 cases of pupillary defects, 6 cases of blepharoptosis, 2 cases of facial palsy, 9 cases of dysesthesia in the limbs, 3 cases of ataxia and 1 case of bulbar palsy. Anti-GQ1b antibodies were detected in 74% of the patients. Sixteen patients were followed without treatment while 1 patient, was given oral vitamin B12 and 2 patients received intravenous immunoglobulin. Double vision improved in all cases, and the mean duration of double vision was approximately 70 days.

FS develops in people of all ages and is more common in men. Also, abducens nerve palsy is common in FS. While it is rare to observe the triad of ophthalmoplegia, ataxia and areflexia, the frequency in which the disorder is complicated by neurologic symptoms other than the triad is high. Double vision has a good prognosis and improves even without treatment.