Dataset Information
Downbeat Nystagmus Is Abolished by Alcohol in Nonalcoholic Wernicke Encephalopathy.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background and objectives
Lesions of the cerebellar flocculus cause enduring downbeat nystagmus (DBN) with unrelenting oscillopsia. Unlike most patients with DBN, the flocculus is structurally spared in nonalcoholic Wernicke encephalopathy (nWE) with chronic DBN. The objective was to study the effects of alcohol in nWE.Methods
We recorded eye movements of a unique patient with nWE under controlled alcohol consumption who said his oscillopsia disappeared with a few drinks of alcohol.Results
His DBN was markedly diminished by alcohol (by 77.4%), although he remained alert with normal saccades.Discussion
This striking observation may be caused by the differential effect of alcohol on the perihypoglossal complex and the paramedian tract neurons, which control the level of activity in the flocculus, with opposite (inhibition and excitation, respectively) effects. The finding suggests new ideas about the treatment and pathophysiology of DBN with a structurally intact cerebellum.
SUBMITTER: Helmchen C
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9647809 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Downbeat Nystagmus Is Abolished by Alcohol in Nonalcoholic Wernicke Encephalopathy.
Neurology. Clinical practice 20221001 5
<h4>Background and objectives</h4>Lesions of the cerebellar flocculus cause enduring downbeat nystagmus (DBN) with unrelenting oscillopsia. Unlike most patients with DBN, the flocculus is structurally spared in nonalcoholic Wernicke encephalopathy (nWE) with chronic DBN. The objective was to study the effects of alcohol in nWE.<h4>Methods</h4>We recorded eye movements of a unique patient with nWE under controlled alcohol consumption who said his oscillopsia disappeared with a few drinks of alcoh ...[more]
