This is a 25-year-old, right handed female, who has had visual changes
for one month. The first symptom was trouble reading; specifically, that
half of the words on the right were missing. While reading the newspaper
she would need to turn her head to finish a line or a sentence. The right
visual field was "dark and blurry." No diplopia. She was referred
to an ophthalmologist who found mild myopia and normal visual field testing.
The visual problems slowly progressed and new symptoms surfaced. These
include word substitutions (paraphasias), dizziness, and transient leg
numbness. The dizzy feeling is "off balance" noted with position
change. She denies vertigo, tinnitus, hearing trouble, or gait difficulties.
Two episodes of leg numbness each lasted 30 secs. The first involved both
legs and the second only part of the left leg.
A repeat eye exam three days ago revealed a right superior visual field
deficit on computerized testing.
Review of systems is positive for a dog bite on the forehead approximately
six to eight months ago, inability to drive and poor work performance.
She denies headache, eye pain, limb weakness, permanent numbness, dysarthria,
history of seizures, and bowel or bladder change. Two years ago the patient
had mild numbness in her right
face lasting about 2 weeks for which she did not seek medical care.
PMH: Right orbital fracture repair at age 8.
Medications:
1. Tetracycline.
Allergies:
1. Cephalexin, which causes a rash.
Family History: Father was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis
at age 35 and died from this disease.
Social History: Works as a private investigator. Single.
Rare alcohol. No smoking or illicit drugs.
Physical:
BP 112/60 HR 84
T 37.2°C
General: Thin. No acute distress.
Mental Status: Alert and oriented x 3.
HEENT: Her head was normocephalic and atraumatic. Neck
was supple, with full range of motion. The pupils were equal, round and
reactive to light and there was no relative afferent pupillary defect.
Extraocular movements were intact without nystagmus. Visual field testing
was full to confrontation. Optic discs were sharp bilaterally with venous
pulsations present. There was no facial weakness. Facial sensation was
intact in the V1 through V3 distributions bilaterally. The palate elevated
symmetrically. The tongue was midline and strong.
Motor (Power/Tone/Bulk): 5/5 bilaterally in the upper
and lower extremities. Tone mildly spastic in the left leg. No atrophy.
Sensory: Sensation was intact to light touch, pin prick
and proprioception bilaterally in the upper and lower extremities. Romberg
was absent.
Reflexes: 2+/4 at the left biceps, triceps, brachioradialis,
patella and Achilles, and 2/4 on the right. The asymmetry is present in
two positions. There was a trace Hoffman sign on the left. Toes were downgoing
to plantar stimulation bilaterally.
Coordination: Finger-to-nose and rapid alternating movements
were intact bilaterally.
Gait: Steady, without ataxia. Tandem walking was intact.
Abnormal Movements: None
Other Organs: Noncontributory.
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