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

Human brainstem blood supply description

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

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.

References

External links