Table of contents:
- What is Miller Fisher syndrome?
- What causes Fisher's syndrome?
- Who is at risk for this neurological disorder?
- What are the symptoms of Miller Fisher syndrome?
- What are the treatment options for Miller Fisher syndrome?
For most people, smiling, walking, even blinking doesn't require much energy. You can even do these basic body functions without thinking because they are regulated by good nerve and muscle coordination. However, this is not shared by a handful of people who have Miller Fisher syndrome.
What is Miller Fisher syndrome?
The name Miller Fisher syndrome is taken from the name of its discoverer, dr. C. Miller Fisher. Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) or Fisher's syndrome for short is one of the "children" of a rare neurological disorder called Guillain-Barre syndrome. Both are autoimmune diseases that occur when the body's immune system turns against a healthy nervous system instead of fighting foreign substances that cause disease. However, MFS is not as severe as Guillain-Barre syndrome.
The neurological disorders typical of Fisher's syndrome occur in the peripheral nervous system, and usually develop rapidly within days. This syndrome is characterized by 3 main problems: facial muscle weakness (drooping eyelids and difficulty expressing expression), poor coordination and balance, and loss of reflexes.
What causes Fisher's syndrome?
The causes of Fisher's syndrome are not fully understood, but are often triggered by a viral infection. Most often the flu virus or the virus that causes gastroenteritis (stomach flu). Symptoms of the common cold, mono, diarrhea, or other illness are commonly reported to precede the symptoms of MFS.
Some researchers suspect that the antibodies produced by the body when fighting infection can cause damage to the myelin sheath that lines peripheral nerves. The peripheral nervous system connects the central nervous system to sense organs, such as the eyes and ears, and to other organs such as muscles, blood vessels and glands.
When myelin is damaged, the nerves cannot properly transmit sensory signals to reach the muscles of the part of the body that want to be moved. That's why muscle weakness is the main characteristic of this syndrome.
However, not everyone who is infected with the virus will automatically develop Fisher's syndrome. This syndrome is a very rare condition. In most cases it remains unclear the cause. It's just that, they suddenly show Miller Fisher symptoms.
Who is at risk for this neurological disorder?
Reported on the Healthline page, anyone can actually experience MFS, but some people are more prone to experiencing it.
Groups of people who are prone to experiencing Miller Fisher are:
- boy. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association reports that men are twice as likely to experience Miller Fisher as women.
- Middle age. The average age of people with this syndrome is 43 years.
- East Asian race, especially Taiwan or Japanese.
Some people may also get MFS after vaccination or surgery.
What are the symptoms of Miller Fisher syndrome?
Symptoms of MFS usually come on quickly. Symptoms of Miller Fisher syndrome generally start to appear about one to four weeks after being infected with the virus. The speed at which symptoms develop is what differentiates them from other gradual neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or ALS.
MFS generally starts with weakness in the eye muscles that progresses to the lower part of the body. Fisher's syndrome symptoms include:
- Loss and control of body movements, including weakness or uncontrolled movements.
- Loss of motion reflexes, especially in the knees and ankles.
- Blurred vision.
- Double vision.
- Weakened facial muscles, which is characterized by a drooping face.
- Inability to smile, whistle, slurred speech, difficulty keeping eyes open.
- Decreased body balance and coordination, resulting in potential falls.
- Blurred vision or double vision.
- Difficulty urinating, in some cases.
Many people with MFS have trouble walking upright or walking very slowly. Some showed a wacky gait like a duck.
What are the treatment options for Miller Fisher syndrome?
There is no specific cure for Miller Fisher syndrome. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), there are two main treatment options for MFS. The first is an injection of immunoglobulin containing high doses of protein into the bloodstream. The goal is to strengthen the immune system against infection and speed up recovery.
An alternative is the plasmapheresis procedure, a plasma exchange procedure to clean the blood. After cleaning, the blood cells are returned to the body again. This procedure can take up to hours and is more difficult than immunoglobulin therapy. That is why most doctors will prioritize immunogloblin injections compared to plasmaparesis.
In most cases, treatment for Miller Fisher syndrome is started within 2-4 weeks of onset of symptoms and continues for up to 6 months. Most people recover completely immediately after finishing therapy. However, some people can experience lasting effects so that symptoms may recur at any time, although they rarely occur.
