Idiopathic Recurrent Polyneuritis Cranialis: A Rare Entity.

ABSTRACT

Recurrent polyneuritis cranialis is a rare disorder that can affect multiple cranial nerves. We describe a young man who presented with recurrent cranial nerve (CN) palsies. His first episode at 17 years of age involved the right VI cranial nerve, the second episode at age 21 involved the left V and VII cranial nerves while the last episode six months later affected the left IV cranial nerve. Based on the clinical findings and laboratory test results to exclude other possibilities, a diagnosis of idiopathic recurrent polyneuritis cranialis was made. This is a very rare disorder in childhood and adolescence. This is the youngest patient ever reported with recurrent polyneuritis cranialis of unknown etiology.