Chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO) is a disorder characterized by slowly progressive paralysis of the extraocular muscles. Patients usually experience bilateral, symmetrical, progressive ptosis, followed by ophthalmoparesis months to years later. Ciliary and iris muscles are not involved. CPEO is the most frequent manifestation of mitochondrial myopathies. CPEO in association with mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) may occur in the absence of any other clinical sign, but usually it is associated with skeletal muscle weakness. Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS) is a related mitochondrial myopathy that demonstrates the following: CPEO, onset before age 20, and pigmentary retinopathy. KSS also has at least one of the following: cardiac conduction defects, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), protein of greater than 100 mg/dL, and a cerebellar syndrome. Other abnormalities in KSS can include mental retardation, Babinski sign, hearing loss, seizures, short stature, delayed puberty, and various endocrine disorders. CPEO also can be a sign in the following disorders: oculopharyngeal dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, and Graves disease.

 
 
 

 

 

 

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