Unilateral ocular involvement in oculo-palatal myoclonus after basal meningitis

Abstract

A young man suffered from bacterial meningo-vascularitis with sequelar left pyramidal and cerebellar signs. Six months later he developed a left-sided palatal myoclonus. One year after the initial admission a pendular rotatory myoclonus was noticed on the left eye only, asynchronous with the palatal oscillations. NMR scan demonstrated a right-sided lower medullary lesion including the inferior olivary nucleus. To the authors' knowledge this is the second case with unilateral ocular and palatal myoclonus on the same side. The present findings are discussed in relation to literature data on the etiopathogenesis of these involuntary movements. It is concluded that two different pacemakers are involved.

Key Words:

• oculo-palatal myoclonus
• unilateral
• inferior olivary nucleus
• meningitis