Opsoclonus Causes Courses

Opsoclonus is a neurological disorder characterized by sudden, rapid eye movements that are not under control, called opsoclonus. It may lead to jerky, chaotic and non-rhythmic eye movements. This rare disorder is usually caused by either an infection or a tumor. Infectious causes of opsoclonus can include viruses, bacteria or parasites. The most common viral cause of opsoclonus is neuroblastoma, which typically affects children and is caused by a virus called parainfluenza virus 5. Bacterial agents that can cause opsoclonus include Echovirus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Haemophilus Influenzae. Parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii can also lead to opsoclonus. Tumors are the most common non-infectious cause of opsoclonus. Most often the tumors are either neuroblastomas, an aggressive type of cancer, or paraneoplastic syndromes, a group of diseases caused by tumor cells that produce abnormal molecules that interfere with the body’s normal function. Other tumors such as Langerhans cell histiocytosis, germ cell tumors, hepatoblastoma, ocular neoplasms and central nervous system tumors can lead to opsoclonus as well. Fortunately, with treatment, it is possible to reduce the symptoms of opsoclonus or even cure it altogether.