Complete bilateral relapsing ophthalmoplegia in a diabetic patient with a sensory-motor distal polyneuropathy

The clinicopathological study of a case of relapsing complete bilateral external ophthalmoplegia associated with a sensory-motor polyneuropathy is presented. No other causes apart from diabetes mellitus were ascertained. The sural biopsy demonstrated an axonal as well as demyelinating neuropathy. The physiopathology of the rare cases of diabetic multiple bilateral cranial nerve palsies is discussed.