THU375 A Case Of Right Eye VI Nerve Palsy In A Patient With Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Musurakis Clio , Havrylyan Andriy , Gilden Janice L 
Published: October 2023

Disclosure: C. Musurakis: None. A. Havrylyan: None. J.L. Gilden: None.

Background: Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes is one of the most common etiologies of acquired VI nerve palsy. Clinical Case: A 40-year-old Mexican female with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), diabetic retinopathy and hypertension was admitted to the hospital due to the new onset of diplopia, headache, and right eye pain. Her symptoms started 2 weeks before seeking medical care and had worsened when she looked towards the right. Duration of DM was more than 10 years, with long-standing history of diet and medication non-compliance. She had never taken the prescribed metformin and insulin, nor did she monitor her blood glucose levels at home. Four years previously, she had received laser therapy to both eyes for diabetic retinopathy. Although she denied numbness or tingling of her extremities, she had a left 4th toe amputation in the past, due to infection, which was complicated by chronic osteomyelitis. There was no prior history of cerebrovascular or cardiac disease. Family history was positive for type 2 DM in both parents. Upon hospital admission, HbA1c was 13.2% (n&lt;5.7). BMI 23.7. Vitals: BP 184/104, HR 110. Labs: blood glucose was 439 mg/dL (n=70-99), CO2 23 mEq/L (n=21-31), AG 12 mmol/L (n=4-11), Beta-Hydroxybutyrate/Acetate 2.0 mmol/L (n=0.1-0.3), venous pH 7.36 (n=7.35-7.45). Physical exam: no conjunctival redness, discharge or swelling around the eye, but inability to abduct the right eye laterally. CT head wo contrast: significant atherosclerotic calcifications within the intracranial segment of right vertebral artery and no acute intracranial abnormality. CTA brain w/wo contrast: no obvious mass effect on 6th cranial nerve territories. MRI of brain and orbit w/wo contrast showed no macroscopic anatomic abnormality or impingement on right abducens nerve but showed minimal white matter changes on the centrum bilaterally. She was diagnosed with an isolated VI facial nerve palsy in the setting of longstanding uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and hypertension. She was started with basal-bolus insulin and antihypertensive therapies and recommended to continue this medication regimen after discharge. She was also advised that gradual recovery of vision may be achieved with glycemic control of DM and hypertension. Conclusion: Although the etiology of acquired VI nerve palsy may be idiopathic, or result from hypertension, trauma, multiple sclerosis, neoplasm, CVA, postsurgical complication, or aneurysm, it is also caused by uncontrolled diabetes mellitus combined with hypertension. It is to be noted that when neoplasm or aneurysm is the cause, the history and examination often reveals the presence of other neurologic symptoms or signs. Reference: Patel SV, Holmes JM, Hodge DO, Burke JP. Diabetes and hypertension in isolated sixth nerve palsy: a population-based study. Ophthalmology. 2005 May;112(5):760-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2004.11.057. PMID: 15878054.

Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023