Acquired Ocular Motor Nerve Palsy in Neurology Clinics: A Prospective Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the patterns and etiologies of acquired ocular motor nerve palsy (OMNP) diagnosed in neurology clinics. We also investigated the clinical features that may predict the causes other than microvascular ischemia in isolated OMNP. METHODS: =47) groups. We investigated the underlying etiologies of acquired OMNP. We also estimated the frequency of microvascular ischemia and other causes in isolated OMNP, and sought to determine the clinical features that can predict the causes other than microvascular ischemia. The intensity of headache was the only risk factor for causes other than microvascular ischemia in isolated OMNP. CONCLUSIONS: Vascular and inflammatory disorders are the most common causes of acquired OMNP diagnosed in neurology clinics. Microvascular ischemia was the predominant cause of isolated OMNP. Severe headache indicates causes other than microvascular ischemia in isolated OMNP.