Document Detail


False negative apraclonidine test in two patients with Horner syndrome.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18454417     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Because of denervation supersensitivity, a miotic pupil in a sympathetically-denervated eye dilates in response to a dilute or weak alpha-1-agonist drug. A reversal of anisocoria after topical apraclonidine is considered as a positive test result that diagnoses a unilateral Horner syndrome. HISTORY AND SIGNS: Two women aged 34 and 46 years with a cocaine-confirmed oculosympathetic defect (Horner syndrome) were tested with 1 % topical apraclonidine on separate days. THERAPY AND OUTCOME: In one patient, her miotic Horner pupil dilated marginally but not enough to reverse the baseline anisocoria. Additionally, the upper lid on the same side retracted. There was no discernable effect of apraclonidine on the normal, contralateral eye. In the second patient, there was no pupillary response to apraclonidine but there was resolution of her ptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Neither patient demonstrated a reversal of anisocoria, the current criterion for diagnosing a Horner syndrome using apraclonidine. Thus, these two patients with an established oculosympathetic defect were said to have a "negative test" for Horner syndrome. Yet both women showed subtle pupil and/or lid changes in response to apraclonidine that were consistent with sympathetic denervation supersensitivity. Reversal of anisocoria following topical apraclonidine does not occur in all patients with a unilateral oculosympathetic defect and more specific parameters for defining a positive test result might optimize apraclonidine's utility as a diagnostic test for Horner syndrome.
Authors:
A Kawasaki; F-X Borruat
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Case Reports; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde     Volume:  225     ISSN:  0023-2165     ISO Abbreviation:  Klin Monbl Augenheilkd     Publication Date:  2008 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-05-05     Completed Date:  2008-07-25     Revised Date:  2009-11-11    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0014133     Medline TA:  Klin Monbl Augenheilkd     Country:  Germany    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  520-2     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Neuro-Ophthalmology, Hôpital Ophtalmique Jules Gonin, Lausanne, Switzerland. aki.kawasaki@ophtal.vd.ch
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / diagnostic use
Adult
Clonidine / analogs & derivatives*,  diagnostic use
False Negative Reactions
Female
Horner Syndrome / diagnosis*
Humans
Middle Aged
Pupil / drug effects
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; 4205-90-7/Clonidine; 66711-21-5/apraclonidine

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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