Pendular nystagmus in hypomyelinating leukodystrophy

J Clin Neurosci. 2013 Oct;20(10):1443-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2012.11.014. Epub 2013 Jul 8.

Abstract

We report the case of a 49-year old woman affected by hypomyelinating leukodystrophy. She presented with typical pendular nystagmus that was analyzed with video-oculography which is provided in the supplementary material of the report. The pendular nystagmus was accompanied by upper limb ataxia on the index-to-nose test. The video was partly recorded with a slow-motion technique in order to better demonstrate the ataxia and the pendular nystagmus. The brain MRI demonstrated a characteristic pattern of hypomyelination. Pendular nystagmus is a key clinical sign that contributes to the diagnosis of CNS hypomyelination when a leukodystrophic pattern is observed on brain MRI.

Keywords: Cerebellar ataxia; Hypomyelinating leukodystrophy; Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease; Pendular nystagmus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Nystagmus, Pathologic / diagnosis
  • Nystagmus, Pathologic / etiology*
  • Spastic Paraplegia, Hereditary / complications*
  • Video Recording