Supranuclear Ocular Palsy
Supranuclear Ocular Palsy Causes
The cause of PSP is not known. Most cases appear to be erratic.
Supranuclear Ocular Palsy Definition
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), also called Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome, is a neurodegenerative disease that affects cognition, eye movements, and posture.
Supranuclear Ocular Palsy Diagnosis
The diagnosis of of this disease is clinical. The key features generally develop over time; although the full-blown picture may be relatively easy to recognize, the early or restricted cases are much more challenging.
Supranuclear Ocular Palsy Symptoms and Signs
Slow vertical saccades and square wave jerks are early symptoms in most patients. The common gaze palsy in PSP is supranuclear ophthalmoplegia. Supranuclear in this context refers to a lesion that is found above the ocular motor nuclei, thus sparing the ocular motor nuclei, nerve fascicles, and neuromuscular junctional and extraocular muscles.
Supranuclear Ocular Palsy Treatment
Treatment of PSP is challenging at best; only a few patients respond to dopaminergic or anticholinergic drugs, and responses often are incomplete and short-lived. No medication is effective in stopping the progression of PSP. Several medications, including dopamine agonists, tricyclic antidepressants, and methysergide, may offer modest symptomatic improvement in some of the clinical features.