Left vertebral artery dissection causing bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia

CJEM. 2008 Sep;10(5):485-7. doi: 10.1017/s1481803500010630.

Abstract

A 21-year-old woman presented to the emergency department 1 day after a fall. On the day of presentation, she awoke with horizontal diplopia and posterior neck pain. Based on clinical findings, she was diagnosed with bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia. A conventional angiogram identified a left vertebral artery dissection. She was started on anticoagulant therapy, with gradual improvement of her diplopia over several months. Diplopia is frequently seen in the emergency department. Internuclear ophthalmoplegia is a cause of binocular diplopia and is important to recognize because it indicates a brainstem lesion requiring neurologic evaluation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls
  • Adult
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Ophthalmoplegia / diagnosis
  • Ophthalmoplegia / etiology*
  • Ophthalmoplegia / physiopathology
  • Ophthalmoplegia / therapy
  • Vertebral Artery Dissection / complications*
  • Vertebral Artery Dissection / diagnosis
  • Vertebral Artery Dissection / therapy

Substances

  • Anticoagulants