TABLE 1:

Clinical histories and presentations in patients with Susac syndrome

Clinical courseSymptomsMR ExaminationAuditory FindingsRetinal FindingsTreatment*
Patient 1
 Initial admission, 2 wk after onsetHeadaches, vomiting, R arm feeling loss, impaired balance, urinary incontinence, dysarthria, decreased attention span, gait ataxia2 wk after onsetNormalR branch retinal artery occlusionIV SoluMedrol 1 g/d × 5, IVIG 0.4 g/d × 5, prednisone 60 mg/d (with taper)
 Symptom relapse, 8 wk after initial onsetHeadaches, cognitive decline, clumsiness, worsened gait ataxia, upper extremity ataxia8 and 10 wk after initial onsetL high-frequency hearing lossNew L branch retinal artery occlusionIVIG 0.4 g/d × 5, prednisone 50 mg/d (with taper)
 Stable condition, 8–9 mo after initial onsetDifficult in tandem walking, mild dysmetria8 mo after initial onsetNo changeNo new occlusionPrednisone 20 mg/d
Patient 2
 Initial admission, 2 wk after onsetHeadaches, R partial vision loss2 wk after onsetNormalR branch retinal artery occlusionAspirin
 Symptom relapse, 6 wk after initial onsetHeadaches, R face and arm numbness6 wk after initial onsetNormalNew L branch retinal artery occlusionIV methylprednisolone 1 g × 1, prednisone 80 mg/d (with taper)
 Symptom relapse, 4 mo after initial onsetL arm parethesias, R extremity weakness, staggering walking4 mo after initial onsetR partial hearing lossNew R/L branch retinal artery occlusionIVIG 0.4 g/d × 5 (monthly basis for 4 consecutive mo), prednisone 60 mg/d (with taper)
 Worsening symptoms, 11 mo after initial onsetWorsening in vision, poor concentration, confusion, impaired balance11 mo after initial onsetNo changeNo changeIVIG 0.4 gm/d × 5 (almost every 6–8 wk for 1 y)
 Stable condition, 2 y laterMild ataxia, poor tandemNormalNormal
  • Note.—IV indicates intravenous; IVIG, intravenous immunoglobulin.