1991 Volume 1991 Issue Supplement42 Pages 56-66
A 25-year-old-woman who had acute cerebellitis with brainstem encephalitis was reported. The patient had sudden onset of vertiginous attack and diplopia several days after a mild upper respiratory infection. Downbeat nystagmus in the primary eye position and truncal ataxia appeared and gradually decreased after the maximum stage. Further study revealed abnormal eye movement of flutter like oscillations at the stage of weakness of downbeat nystagmus and then the patient recovered to be able to stand and walk within 2 months from the onset.
The records of a series of ENG suggested that the lesion in the central nervous system should be located not only in the cerebellum but also in the brainstem. Analysis of eye movements by ENG was helpful in the judgement of the stage in the clinical course.
