Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0028738 (nystagmus)
 7,431 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Two patients who were treated with lithium for psychiatric illness developed primary position downbeat nystagmus. Previous reports have suggested that lithium causes this type of nystagmus, but other known causes were present in most cases. Several months after stopping the lithium, one patient had marked resolution, while the second patient had only minimal improvement. Valproate sodium proved to be useful in suppressing the nystagmus in the second patient. Lithium carbonate is a cause of primary position downbeat nystagmus. The nystagmus may be permanent or require several months of abstinence for improvement.
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PMID:Lithium-induced downbeat nystagmus. 275 17

A 37-year-old man under treatment for manic-depressive illness developed pneumonia identified as Legionnaires' disease accompanied by a severe neurological disorder with profound dysarthria, ataxia, gaze paralysis, and downbeat nystagmus. At review six months later, he has made only a partial recovery with persisting limb and gait ataxia. Difficulties in diagnosing neurological complications of Legionnaires' disease in a patient with a psychiatric disorder requiring psychotropic medication are discussed.
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PMID:Brain stem and cerebellar dysfunction with Legionnaires' disease. 733 94

Wolfram syndrome (WS) is an autosomal recessive progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy. Diabetes insipidus and sensorineural deafness are also noted frequently, explaining the acronym DIDMOAD (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness) by which the syndrome is also referred. Additional manifestations such as atonic bladder, ataxia, nystagmus and predisposition for psychiatric illness may be present. The Wolfram syndrome gene, WFS1, was mapped to chromosome 4p16.1 by positional cloning. It encodes an 890-amino-acid polypeptide named wolframin. Although the wolframin function is still not completely known, its localization to the endoplasmic reticulum suggests it can play a role in calcium homeostasis, membrane trafficking and protein processing. Knowing the cellular function of wolframin is necessary for understanding the pathophysiology of Wolfram syndrome. This knowledge may lead to development of therapies to prevent or reduce the outcomes of WS.
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PMID:[Wolfram syndrome: from definition to molecular bases]. 1716 Feb 6

Acute vestibular syndrome is characterized by a rapid unilateral injury to either peripheral or central vestibular structures. It consists of severe vertigo, nausea and vomiting, spontaneous nystagmus, and postural instability. In many cases, a peripheral etiology is considered although it may be due to an underlying serious central pathology. The present study was designed to investigate the feasibility of differentiating the cause of acute vestibular syndrome in such patients using clinical, audiovestibular and radiologic tools. We performed a case series study of patients complaining of acute vertigo at a university referring center for hearing and balance disorders. Thirty patients with history of acute vertigo within 3 days onset with no history of previous otological or neurological disorders. Eighteen patients were due to acute peripheral vestibular lesion, 1 due to psychiatric illness under antidepressant drugs and 11 were of central vestibular lesion. The most important step in the diagnosis of acute vertigo is a thorough and detailed history. The common error of carrying out investigations in place of a detailed history is to be avoided. The clinical evaluation has the highest sensitivity and specificity in differentiating central from peripheral vestibular lesions.
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PMID:Evaluation of patients with acute vestibular syndrome. 1789 48

While Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is a well-characterized syndrome in alcoholism and malnutrition, little is written of its prevalence or presentation in patients with psychiatric illness. We present a case of a 37-year-old Nigerian male with schizophrenia and malnutrition who presented with delirium and ophthalmoplegia. The clinical diagnosis was supported by dramatic reversal of the symptoms and signs following the administration of intravenous thiamine. Owing to the high rate of mortality and morbidity, WE should be considered in the evaluation of any patient with unexplained nystagmus, gaze palsies, gait ataxia, or confusion, especially if a condition associated with malnutrition is present. This is particularly important in psychiatric patients where the clinical history and syndrome may be obscured and treatment delayed.
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PMID:Wernicke's encephalopathy in a Nigerian with schizophrenia. 1835 48

The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test is one component of the Standardized Field Sobriety Test battery. This article reviews the literature on smooth pursuit eye movement and gaze nystagmus with a focus on normative responses, the influence of alcohol on these behaviors, and stimulus conditions similar to those used in the HGN sobriety test. Factors such as age, stimulus and background conditions, medical conditions, prescription medications, and psychiatric disorder were found to affect the smooth pursuit phase of HGN. Much less literature is available for gaze nystagmus, but onset of nystagmus may occur in some sober subjects at 45 degrees or less. We conclude that HGN is limited by large variability in the underlying normative behavior, from methods and testing environments that are often poorly controlled, and from a lack of rigorous validation in laboratory settings.
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PMID:Horizontal gaze nystagmus: a review of vision science and application issues. 2010 67

Dizziness accounts for an estimated 5 percent of primary care clinic visits. The patient history can generally classify dizziness into one of four categories: vertigo, disequilibrium, presyncope, or lightheadedness. The main causes of vertigo are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere disease, vestibular neuritis, and labyrinthitis. Many medications can cause presyncope, and regimens should be assessed in patients with this type of dizziness. Parkinson disease and diabetic neuropathy should be considered with the diagnosis of disequilibrium. Psychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and hyperventilation syndrome, can cause vague lightheadedness. The differential diagnosis of dizziness can be narrowed with easy-to-perform physical examination tests, including evaluation for nystagmus, the Dix-Hallpike maneuver, and orthostatic blood pressure testing. Laboratory testing and radiography play little role in diagnosis. A final diagnosis is not obtained in about 20 percent of cases. Treatment of vertigo includes the Epley maneuver (canalith repositioning) and vestibular rehabilitation for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, intratympanic dexamethasone or gentamicin for Meniere disease, and steroids for vestibular neuritis. Orthostatic hypotension that causes presyncope can be treated with alpha agonists, mineralocorticoids, or lifestyle changes. Disequilibrium and lightheadedness can be alleviated by treating the underlying cause.
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PMID:Dizziness: a diagnostic approach. 2152 27

The practice of ophthalmology and psychiatry meet over in several aspects of patient diagnosis, management & therapy. The ophthalmologists should be able to recognise signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorder. Non organic disorders could have ophthalmologic manifestations related both the afferent system and motor system related symptoms. Ophthalmologist should be aware of conditions like functional vision loss and visual field loss, voluntary nystagmus, spasm of near reflex, non-organic disturbances of eyelid function, ocular and facial sensation and psychosomatic diseases of eye.Many of the drugs used in psychiatry may cause ophthalmological side effects. These drugs can affect retina, optic nerve, higher visual centre, cornea, lens, ocular motor system and intra ocular pressure. Thalidomide used in 1950s was known to cause congenital ocular defects. Psychological reaction and psychiatric complications are well known after cataract surgery.Other then these problems there are psychiatric disorders which can present ophthalmologic signs and symptoms.
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PMID:Psycho ophthalmology : the interface between psychiatry and ophthalmology. 2145 89