Opsoclonus-Myoclonus Syndrome Symptom Guide

Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) is a neurological and inflammatory condition. In many cases, the condition is paraneoplastic in origin, meaning it occurs after the immune system attacks healthy tissue alongside cancer cells. The disease typically has an abrupt and severe onset and may cause chronic symptoms. The typical treatment lasts for one to two years and involves intense immunotherapy, the overall goal of which is to cause complete remission. In paraneoplastic cases, patients often seek treatment for opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome symptoms before discovering the underlying cancer.

Get to know the major symptoms at the heart of opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome now.

Strabismus

Strabismus occurs when the eyes don't align properly and fail to work together. With strabismus, one eye can focus on objects, but the other is aligned inward, upward, outward, or downward. The condition might be intermittent or constant. To stop double vision from happening, the brain usually ignores whatever input the misaligned eye gives. This causes 'lazy eye.' It's estimated about four percent of individuals in the United States have some form of strabismus. Each eye is controlled by six external muscles. For an individual to have normal vision with both eyes, the functioning and neurological control of all the muscles must coordinate seamlessly. When anatomical or neurological problems keep the eye muscles from functioning properly, the eyes become misaligned, leading to strabismus. In opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome, the cause is neurological. When the condition isn't related to opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome, it might be caused by muscle problems.

Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms of opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome now.