Saccadic and smooth-pursuit eye movement in neurootological diagnostic procedures

Int Tinnitus J. 2005;11(1):52-3.

Abstract

The origin of the generation of saccadic and smooth-pursuit eye movements has not been proved. The goal of the study reported here was to search for the connection of visuooculomotor reactions--saccades and eye-tracking test--with cerebellar damage. Using electronystagmography, we tested 11 patients treated with aminoglycosides because of pneumonia. After a mean of 21 days of pharmacological therapy, a neurological examination revealed cerebellar disability in all cases. On the basis of our previous studies, we suspected cortical Purkinje cell damage. In all tested patients, saccadic movements were disturbed: We observed overshoot, undershoot, and prolonged latencies. In seven patients, eye-tracking test results were not correct: We noted the degradation of the sinusoidal pattern most often. The results pointed to a connection between the generation of these two tested visuooculomotor reactions with cerebellar diseases possibly located in the cortex.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cerebellar Diseases / chemically induced
  • Cerebellar Diseases / diagnosis
  • Cerebellar Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Cerebellum / drug effects
  • Cerebellum / physiopathology*
  • Electronystagmography
  • Female
  • Gentamicins / adverse effects
  • Gentamicins / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Purkinje Cells / drug effects
  • Purkinje Cells / pathology
  • Pursuit, Smooth / drug effects
  • Pursuit, Smooth / physiology*
  • Reaction Time
  • Saccades / drug effects
  • Saccades / physiology*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Gentamicins