Korean J Ophthalmol.  2014 Apr;28(2):194-196. 10.3341/kjo.2014.28.2.194.

A Case of Ocular Myasthenia Gravis Presenting as Double Depressor Palsy

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Seoul, Korea. ungsookim@kimeye.com
  • 2Department of Ophthalmology, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.

Abstract

A 65-year-old man who had been experiencing diplopia in front and down gaze for 15 days visited our hospital. Hypertropia was noted in the patient's left eye, and limitation of depression was found in the adduction, primary gaze, and abduction. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed no remarkable findings. Two weeks after the first visit, the patient complained of ptosis in the left eye. An ice test was performed and the ptosis was resolved after the test. Then, anti-acetylcholine receptor binding antibody levels were checked and found to be slightly elevated. We prescribed methylprednisolone per os 24 mg for 2 weeks, and his symptoms improved after the 2-week treatment. Five weeks after his first visit, the patient showed an ortho result in the alternate prism cover test and normal ocular movements. This may be the first case in which ocular myasthenia gravis presented as double depressor palsy, and in such cases, the possibility of ocular myasthenia gravis should be considered to rule out double depressor palsy.

Keyword

Double depressor palsy; Myasthenia gravis; Strabismus

MeSH Terms

Aged
Diagnosis, Differential
Diplopia/*diagnosis/*etiology
Humans
Male
Myasthenia Gravis/*complications/*diagnosis
Ocular Motility Disorders/diagnosis/etiology
Strabismus/diagnosis/etiology

Figure

  • Fig. 1 A limitation of depression was found in adduction, primary gaze and abduction in the left eye.

  • Fig. 2 Left eye's ptosis was noted. (B) Five minutes after application of ice pack, ptosis improved.

  • Fig. 3 Three weeks after oral steroid medication administration, the limitation of depression was completely resolved.


Reference

1. Nayak BK, Menon V, Prakash P. Acquired double depressor palsy. Indian J Ophthalmol. 1983; 31:77–78.
2. Vaphiades MS, Bhatti MT, Lesser RL. Ocular myasthenia gravis. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2012; 23:537–542.
3. Jacobs L, Anderson PJ, Bender MB. The lesions producing paralysis of downward but not upward gaze. Arch Neurol. 1973; 28:319–323.
4. Golnik KC, Pena R, Lee AG, Eggenberger ER. An ice test for the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. Ophthalmology. 1999; 106:1282–1286.
Full Text Links
  • KJO
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr