Ocular motor involvement in post-infective polyneuropathy.

Ocular motor involvement is uncommon in post-infective polyneuropathy. Details of the evolution and recovery of the ophthalmoplegia are presented in 11 patients in whom ocular motor involvement was a major or notable feature of the illness. Follow-up examinations after intervals of up to 6 years in 10 of the 11 patients showed no residual ocular motor impairment. Saccadic eye movement studies carried out in 6 cases at the time of follow-up showed no abnormality in 2 cases while in the other 4 cases there was mild reduction of saccadic velocities and/or increased saccade reaction times with saccade inaccuracy. In spite of the variability of the ophthalmoplegia and of the remainder of the clinical syndrome in these cases, we conclude that they all represent variants of the classical form of the Guillain-Barre syndrome.