Oculopalatal myoclonus: report of a case

J Formos Med Assoc. 1990 Jun;89(6):487-9.

Abstract

We report a patient who developed a delayed onset of oculopalatal myoclonus, characterized by synchronous oscillatory movements of the eyeballs, soft palate and the orbicularis oculi muscle, 5 months after a pontine hemorrhage. The involuntary oscillations did not affect the speech or swallowing but continued in sleep with decreased amplitudes. These oscillations also failed to respond to clonazepam therapy and the patient was unable to voluntarily suppress them for several minutes. A temporary association in synchronous titubation of the head was also observed. A characteristic vertical ocular oscillation was demonstrated in an oculogram. This is in accordance with the midline form of oculopalatal myoclonus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / complications
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Myoclonus / diagnosis*
  • Myoclonus / etiology
  • Myoclonus / physiopathology
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / physiopathology
  • Palatal Muscles* / physiopathology