Miller Fisher Syndrome

What is Miller Fisher syndrome?

This rare acquired nerve disease has been classified as a variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome. Doctors diagnose its presence after confirming that the patient has a unique antibody associated with the disorder.  This involves performing a spinal tap that will show certain elevated protein levels in Miller Fisher patients.

Most health care providers believe that the trigger for developing this syndrome is a viral infection-the same trigger for Guillain-Barre.  They classify the Miller Fisher syndrome as an autoimmune disease.

Symptoms

Individuals who contract Miller Fisher can exhibit a variety of symptoms.  The most common are abnormal muscle coordination, paralysis of the patient’s eye muscles and a lack of tendon or other reflexes due to affected nerves.  Some patients experience generalized muscle weakness and respiratory failure.  Tingling, numbness, dizziness and even nausea are common.

The principal difference between this disorder and Guillan-Barre syndrome are how each one affects various nerve groups.  Patients with Guillan-Barre typically experience a paralysis that starts in their legs and moves up the body.  However, with Miller Fisher, the symptoms begin in the patient’s head.  The illness affects eye muscles and balance first.  It then slowly moves down the body to the neck, arms and other areas.

In general, Miller Fisher syndrome isn’t associated with the life-threatening attributes of Guillan-Barre.  However, with symptoms like double vision, it can be both frightening and difficult to live through for any patient who develops it.

Treatment and Prognosis

The treatment for Miller Fisher syndrome is identical to that used for Guillan-Barre, NINDS indicates.  Patients typically receive intravenous infusions of immunoglobulin (IVIg) or plasmapheresis, a method of removing harmful antibodies from an individual’s body.  Supportive care aids in treating a patient’s general well-being.

Some patients are able to recover without intervention.  The overall prognosis for this condition is good. Death from lack of treatment is rare but is usually due to respiratory failure.

For most patients who develop Miller Fisher syndrome, recovery is underway around two to four weeks after they first experience symptoms.  However, it often takes up to six months.  After the disease has run its course, some patients find that they have residual deficits.  Less than three percent of afflicted individuals experience relapses, however.