About tolosa hunt syndrome
What is tolosa hunt syndrome?
Tolosa-Hunt syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by severe periorbital headaches, along with decreased and painful eye movements (ophthalmoplegia). Symptoms usually affect only one eye (unilateral). In most cases, affected individuals experience intense sharp pain and decreased eye movements. Symptoms often will subside without intervention (spontaneous remission) and may recur without a distinct pattern (randomly). Affected individuals may exhibit signs of paralysis (palsy) of certain cranial nerves such as drooping of the upper eyelid (ptosis), double vision (diplopia), large pupil, and facial numbness. The affected eye often abnormally protrudes (proptosis). The exact cause of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome is not known, but the disorder is thought to be associated with inflammation of specific areas behind the eye (cavernous sinus and superior orbital fissure).
What are the symptoms for tolosa hunt syndrome?
Facial numbness symptom was found in the tolosa hunt syndrome condition
Many individuals with Tolosa-Hunt syndrome experience the sudden onset of severe periorbital headache, followed by painful and decreased eye movements (ophthalmoplegia). In some cases of severe ophthalmoplegia, the eye itself is unable to move or look in various directions (frozen globe).
The major symptoms of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome include chronic periorbital headache, double vision, Paralysis (palsy) of certain cranial nerves, and chronic fatigue. Affected individuals may also exhibit protrusion of the eye (proptosis), drooping of the upper eyelid (ptosis) and diminished vision. In most cases, symptoms associated with Tolosa-Hunt syndrome affect only one side (unilateral). Symptoms will usually subside without intervention (spontaneous remission) and may recur without a distinct pattern (randomly).
What are the causes for tolosa hunt syndrome?
While the exact cause of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome is unknown, one theory is an abnormal autoimmune response linked with an inflammation in a specific area behind the eye (cavernous sinus and superior orbital fissure). In some cases, inflammation may be due to a clumping of a certain type of cell (granulomatous inflammation). Autoimmune disorders are caused when the body’s natural defenses against “foreign” or invading organisms (e.g., antibodies) begin to attack healthy tissue for unknown reasons. Other possible causes may include generalized inflammation and constricted or inflamed cranial blood vessels.
What are the treatments for tolosa hunt syndrome?
In most cases, the pain associated with Tolosa-Hunt syndrome subsides with short-term use of steroid drugs. Pain is usually reduced in untreated cases within fifteen to twenty days. With steroid treatment, pain typically briskly subsides within twenty-four to seventy-two hours – and this brisk steroid response aids in the diagnosis. Affected individuals may be vulnerable to recurrent future attacks.
What are the risk factors for tolosa hunt syndrome?
The risk factors of Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome are unknown