Eye movement recordings to investigate a supranuclear component in CPEO: a cross sectional study

Ailsa E Ritchie (1) , Philip Griffiths (2) , Patrick F Chinnery (3) , Adrian W Davidson (2)

1 Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital [London]
2 Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Institute of Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Background: It has been postulated that eye movement disorders in CPEO have a neurological as well as a myopathic component to them. Aim: To investigate whether there is a supranuclear component to eye movement disorders in CPEO using eye movement recordings. Methods: We measured saccade and smooth pursuit characteristics together with vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain and VOR suppression (VORS) gain in 18 patients with CPEO and 34 normals using Eyelink II video-oculography. Results: The asymptotic values of the peak velocity main sequence curves were reduced in the CPEO group compared to normals, with a mean of 161 deg/sec (95% CI 126-197 deg/sec) compared to 453 deg/sec (95% CI 430-475 deg/sec) respectively. Saccadic latency was longer in CPEO (263ms; CI 250-278), compared to controls (185ms; CI 181-189). Smooth pursuit and VOR gains were impaired in CPEO although this could be explained by non-supranuclear causes. VORS gain was identical in the two groups. Conclusions: This study does not support a supranuclear component to the ophthalmoplegia of CPEO, although the increased latencies observed may warrant further investigation.

Mots clés: Muscles; Physiology; Experimental &#8211 laboratory

Ailsa E Ritchie, Philip Griffiths, Patrick F Chinnery, Adrian W Davidson. Eye movement recordings to investigate a supranuclear component in CPEO: a cross sectional study. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 2010, 94 (9), pp.1165. ⟨10.1136/bjo.2009.165639⟩. ⟨hal-00557328⟩