Familial Recurrent Cranial Nerve Palsy

We report three patients, that span two generations of one family, who experienced recurrent cranial nervepalsies. Four episodes of facial nerve and three episodes of abducens nerve palsy occurred. The neuroophthalmogic examination in all patients was otherwise unremarkable. Hematologic evaluation including chemistry, cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), protein electrophoresis, acetylcholine receptor antibody, protein C, proteinS, fibrinogen, plasminogen, 2-antiplasmin and Lyme titers was normal. Anticardiolipin antibodies and the lupus anticoagulant were not detected. Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) analysis, tensilon test, chest radiograph and magnetic resonance imaging were normal. The cranial nerve palsies typically r.esolved over 3 to 6 months.