Bedside Assessment of Downgaze Limit by Amplitude.

BACKGROUND

Bedside assessment of downgaze palsy could be difficult, due to the lack of a marker to differentiate normal from palsy, which could delay the diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Amplitude based bedside assessment using the intercanthal line as a marker was reported to easily identify, quantify, and record downgaze limit by any smartphone. However, further assessment is needed.

OBJECTIVE

To study the reliability of this method in assessing downgaze limit.

METHODS

We assessed downgaze limit by amplitude in 36 healthy controls (HC), 50 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and 23 with probable PSP when they strived to look down. We also checked the intra-rater agreement in another 18 patients with probable PSP by a neurologist, inter-rater agreement between two neurologists, and intra-rater agreement between visual estimation and smartphone acquired eye imaging based quantification in probable PSP, PD, and HC. The association between the extent of downgaze palsy and brain atrophy in MRI was also evaluated in patients with probable PSP.

RESULTS

None of the 86 non-PSP subjects had upper edges of the iris above the intercanthal line (downgaze palsy absent), while the 41 patients with probable PSP all had upper edges of the iris above the intercanthal line (downgaze palsy present). We also found a high intra-rater agreement by a neurologist, inter-rater agreement between two neurologists, intra-rater agreement between visual estimation and imaging quantification, and association between the extent of downgaze palsy and brain atrophy.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports this bedside assessment, with significant clinical and research applications.