There are syndromes that are familiar even to a person who is far from medicine. For example, almost everyone has heard about Asperger Syndrome . But Horner's syndrome is not so often discussed in the press. Although this symptom complex strongly interferes with the life of someone who is “unlucky” to get sick. However, there are few such people; this condition is very rare.
Horner's syndrome is associated with impaired functioning of the sympathetic nerves responsible for the condition of the face and eyes. It is caused by any problems in the nerve tissue, which connects the peripheral nerves to the eyes and face, with the center - the hypothalamus. The sympathetic nerves themselves do not transmit a control signal from the center, but they maintain the tissues and organs “in working condition”, therefore, when the functioning of these nerves is impaired, the organs do not work normally. The degree of damage can be different.
When does Horner's syndrome occur?
Firstly, when an injury occurs to any of the arteries supplying the brain with oxygen. For example, the carotid artery.
Secondly, with damage to nerves in such an formation as the brachial plexus.
Thirdly, often Horner's syndrome manifests itself simultaneously with migraines.
Fourth, it happens as a consequence of a stroke or a tumor in the brain stem.
Fifth, sometimes the syndrome occurs simultaneously with a tumor in the apex of the lung.
Sixth, a disease is possible after a viral infection, as well as a result of an autoimmune process in which the body destroys its own cells.
Seventh, it is congenital, in which case it is combined with the lack of color of the iris of the child.
Symptoms of the disease are as follows:
- Reduced sweating in the affected area of ​​the face, while local thermoregulation is disturbed;
- The eyelid falls and does not rise arbitrarily (this condition is also called ptosis);
- Violation of the position of the eyeball;
- Swelling of the lower eyelid;
- The pupil becomes small and narrowed.
Of course, from the pupil and eyelid, it can be assumed that the patient has Bernard-Horner syndrome. However, as a rule, a good doctor is not limited to stating a pair of symptoms. Indeed, damage to the sympathetic nervous system can be much wider than with the syndrome under consideration. Perhaps other areas on the body are affected, so in such cases a complete neurological examination is performed. A study of pupillary reactions is also carried out, while examining how the relative and absolute sizes of the pupil change when exposed to bright light and darkness. In Horner's syndrome, the pupil in the dark expands much more slowly than normal. And even substances that help dilate the pupil are unable to make the reactions right.
Blood tests, angiographic procedures are also performed (contrast medium allows you to see the state of the cerebral arteries), fluorography, as well as MRI scans of the brain, puncture of cerebrospinal fluid at the level of the lumbar vertebrae.
So, Horner's syndrome is established. Treatment may be different, because the choice of a particular method depends on the cause that triggered the disease, and they can be very different. The prognosis may be good, or not very, depending on whether the cause is correctly established in a particular case. Horner's syndrome itself has no complications, but a deterioration in health is possible due to the disease that triggered the syndrome.
Of course, not in all cases a complete cure is possible, if the nerve tissue was damaged by viruses, you can only take drugs that improve blood circulation in the brain, and hope for the best. If a tumor was detected, it must be removed as soon as possible. In case of malignant transformation, classical irradiation is also carried out.
It’s not Horner’s syndrome that is dangerous, but the disease that is behind it, so you should contact a qualified ophthalmologist at the first manifestations of these symptoms. It may be possible to cope with the disease at an early stage.