Sixth nerve palsy: an unusual manifestation of preeclampsia.

Abstract

Neurologic abnormalities may occur in pregnancy as a manifestation of neurologic or systemic disease. We present an unusual case of preeclampsia presenting with a sixth nerve lesion. A 33-year-old woman, gravida 2, presented at 38 weeks' gestation with sixth nerve palsy. She was hypertensive and proteinuric, with plasma urea of 24 mg/dL. Labor was induced and hypertension escalated in the early puerperium, with concomitant worsening diplopia. Blood pressure control and resolution of preeclampsia were followed by resolution of the sixth nerve lesion. There was no evidence of other pathology on extensive investigations. Sixth nerve palsy is an unusual manifestation of preeclampsia.