Claude's syndrome is a form of
brainstem stroke syndrome characterized by the presence of an ipsilateral
oculomotor nerve palsy, contralateral
hemiparesis
Hemiparesis, also called unilateral paresis, is the weakness of one entire side of the body (''wikt:hemi-#Prefix, hemi-'' means "half"). Hemiplegia, in its most severe form, is the complete paralysis of one entire side of the body. Either hemipar ...
, contralateral
ataxia
Ataxia (from Greek α- negative prefix+ -τάξις rder= "lack of order") is a neurological sign consisting of lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements that can include gait abnormality, speech changes, and abnormalities in e ...
, and contralateral
hemiplegia
Hemiparesis, also called unilateral paresis, is the weakness of one entire side of the body ('' hemi-'' means "half"). Hemiplegia, in its most severe form, is the complete paralysis of one entire side of the body. Either hemiparesis or hemiplegia ...
of the lower face, tongue, and shoulder.
Claude's syndrome affects
oculomotor nerve
The oculomotor nerve, also known as the third cranial nerve, cranial nerve III, or simply CN III, is a cranial nerve that enters the orbit through the superior orbital fissure and innervates extraocular muscles that enable most movements o ...
,
red nucleus
The red nucleus or nucleus ruber is a structure in the rostral midbrain involved in motor coordination. The red nucleus is pale pink, which is believed to be due to the presence of iron in at least two different forms: hemoglobin and ferritin. ...
and
brachium conjunctivum
In the human brain, the superior cerebellar peduncle (brachium conjunctivum) is one of the three paired cerebellar peduncles of bundled axon, fibers that connect the cerebellum to the brainstem. The superior cerebellar peduncle connects to the midb ...
.
Cause

Claude's syndrome is caused by
midbrain
The midbrain or mesencephalon is the uppermost portion of the brainstem connecting the diencephalon and cerebrum with the pons. It consists of the cerebral peduncles, tegmentum, and tectum.
It is functionally associated with vision, hearing, mo ...
infarction
Infarction is tissue death (necrosis) due to Ischemia, inadequate blood supply to the affected area. It may be caused by Thrombosis, artery blockages, rupture, mechanical compression, or vasoconstriction. The resulting lesion is referred to as a ...
as a result of occlusion of a branch of the
posterior cerebral artery
The posterior cerebral artery (PCA) is one of a pair of cerebral arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the occipital lobe, as well as the medial and inferior aspects of the temporal lobe of the human brain. The two arteries originate from the d ...
. This lesion is usually a unilateral infarction of the
red nucleus
The red nucleus or nucleus ruber is a structure in the rostral midbrain involved in motor coordination. The red nucleus is pale pink, which is believed to be due to the presence of iron in at least two different forms: hemoglobin and ferritin. ...
and
cerebellar peduncle
The cerebellar peduncles are three paired bundles of Axon, fibres that connect the cerebellum to the brain stem.
* Superior cerebellar peduncle is a paired structure of white matter that connects the cerebellum to the mid-brain.
* Middle cereb ...
, affecting several structures in the midbrain including:
It is very similar to
Benedikt's syndrome.
Other causes
It has been reported that posterior cerebral artery
stenosis
Stenosis () is the abnormal narrowing of a blood vessel or other tubular organ or structure such as foramina and canals. It is also sometimes called a stricture (as in urethral stricture).
''Stricture'' as a term is usually used when narrowing ...
can also precipitate Claude's syndrome.
Diagnosis
History
It carries the name of
Henri Charles Jules Claude, a French psychiatrist and neurologist, who described the condition in 1912.
See also
*
Wallenberg's syndrome
*
Moritz Benedikt
References
External links
{{Lesions of spinal cord and brainstem
Stroke
Syndromes affecting the nervous system