Parinaud's syndrome


Parinaud's syndrome is a constellation of neurological signs indicating injury to the dorsal midbrain. More specifically, compression of the vertical gaze center at the rostral interstitial nucleus of medial longitudinal fasciculus.
It is a group of abnormalities of eye movement and pupil dysfunction and is named for Henri Parinaud, considered to be the father of French ophthalmology.

Signs and symptoms

Parinaud's syndrome is a cluster of abnormalities of eye movement and pupil dysfunction, characterized by:
  • Paralysis of upwards gaze: Downward gaze is usually preserved. This vertical palsy is supranuclear, so doll's head maneuver should elevate the eyes, but eventually all upward gaze mechanisms fail. In the extreme form, conjugate down gaze in the primary position, or the "setting-sun sign" is observed. Neurosurgeons see this sign most commonly in patients with hydrocephalus.
  • Pseudo-Argyll Robertson pupils: Accommodative paresis ensues, and pupils become mid-dilated and show light-near dissociation.
  • Convergence-retraction nystagmus: Attempts at upward gaze often produce this phenomenon. On fast up-gaze, the eyes pull in and the globes retract. The easiest way to bring out this reaction is to ask the patient to follow down-going stripes on an optokinetic drum.
  • Eyelid retraction
It is also commonly associated with bilateral papilledema. It has less commonly been associated with spasm of accommodation on attempted upward gaze, pseudoabducens palsy or slower movements of the abducting eye than the adducting eye during horizontal saccades, see-saw nystagmus and associated ocular motility deficits including skew deviation, oculomotor nerve palsy, trochlear nerve palsy and internuclear ophthalmoplegia.

Causes

image:Parinaud's syndrome.svg|400px|right|thumb|Cross section of midbrain. The area affected in Parinaud's syndrome is indicated by the striped region.
Parinaud's syndrome results from injury, either direct or compressive, to the dorsal midbrain. Specifically, compression or ischemic damage of the mesencephalic tectum, including the superior colliculus adjacent oculomotor and Edinger-Westphal nuclei, causing dysfunction to the motor function of the eye.
Classically, it has been associated with three major groups:
However, any other compression, ischemia or damage to this region can produce these phenomena: hydrocephalus, midbrain hemorrhage, cerebral arteriovenous malformation, trauma and brainstem toxoplasmosis infection. Neoplasms and giant aneurysms of the posterior fossa have also been associated with the midbrain syndrome.
Vertical supranuclear ophthalmoplegia has also been associated with metabolic disorders, such as Niemann-Pick disease, Wilson's disease, kernicterus, and barbiturate overdose.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis can be made via combination of physical exam, particularly deficits of the relevant cranial nerves. Confirmation can be made via imaging, such as CT scan or MRI.

Treatment

Treatment is primarily directed towards etiology of the dorsal midbrain syndrome. A thorough workup, including neuroimaging is essential to rule out anatomic lesions or other causes of this syndrome. Visually significant upgaze palsy can be relieved with bilateral inferior rectus recessions. Retraction nystagmus and convergence movement are usually improved with this procedure as well.

Prognosis

The eye findings of Parinaud's syndrome generally improve slowly over months, especially with resolution of the causative factor; continued resolution after the first 3–6 months of onset is uncommon. However, rapid resolution after normalization of intracranial pressure following placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt has been reported.