Can upbeat nystagmus increase in downward, but not upward, gaze?

Abstract

Upbeat nystagmus (UBN) is typically increased with upward gaze and decreased with downward gaze. We describe a patient with acute multiple sclerosis who developed primary position UBN with a linear slow phase waveform, in which the velocity of nystagmus was intensified in downward gaze and decreased during upward gaze. Brain MRI showed high signal lesions in the paramedian dorsal area of the caudal medulla encompassing the most caudal part of the perihypoglossal nuclei. Clinicians should be aware of possibility of a caudal medullary lesion in a patient with UBN, especially when the velocity of the UBN is increased in downward gaze.