Claude Syndrome in Midbrain Infraction

ABSTRACT

Claude syndrome is a well known midbrain syndrome which is characterized by ipsilateral oculomotor nerve palsy and contralateral cerebellar ataxia by the lesion of the red nucleus. Although this syndrome was reported as early as in 1924 by Claude, only a few cases have been reported. Moreover, the midbrain infarction as a cause of Claude syndrome has quite rarely been described. Firstly, we report a 61-year-old patient with partial oculomotor nerve palsy and contralateral cerebellar ataxia who demonstrated an infarction just caudal to the red nucleus on MRI. Secondly, we also discuss the probable vertical fascicular arrangement of the oculomotor nerve in the midbrain.