Ophthalmoplegia Due to Miller Fisher Syndrome in a Patient With Myasthenia Gravis

Abstract

Here, we describe a 79-year-old man, admitted to our unit for worsening diplopia and fatigue, started a few weeks after an episode of bronchitis and flu vaccination. Past medical history includes myasthenia gravis (MG), well-controlled by Pyridostigmine, Azathioprine, and Prednisone. During the first days, the patient developed progressive ocular movement abnormalities up to complete external ophthalmoplegia, severe limb and gait ataxia, and mild dysarthria. Deep tendon reflexes were absent in lower limbs. Since not all the symptoms were explainable with the previous diagnosis of myasthenia gravis, other etiologies were investigated. Brain MRI and cerebrospinal fluid analysis were normal. Electromyography showed a pattern of predominantly sensory multiple radiculoneuritis. Suspecting Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS), the patient was treated with plasmapheresis with subsequent clinical improvement. Antibodies against GQ1b turned out to be positive. MFS is an immune-mediated neuropathy presenting with ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and areflexia. Even if only a few cases of MFS overlapping with MG have been described so far, the coexistence of two different autoimmune disorders can occur. It is always important to evaluate possible differential diagnosis even in case of known compatible diseases, especially when some clinical features seem atypical.

Keywords: GQ1b; Miller Fisher syndrome; autoimmune diseases; myasthenia gravis; ophthalmoplegia.

Figure 1

(A) Axial fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) image demonstrated cortico-subcortical atrophy and chronic cerebrovasculopathy. (B) Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) did not show acute lesions. (C) Neurophysiological studies showed absence of the left sural and the right ulnar sensory nerve action potentials, mildly increased latency of the facial nerve CMAP, and normal repetitive facial nerve stimulation.