Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Miller Fisher syndrome, named after the physician who described it, is a rare neurological condition that causes weakness of the muscles of the face and upper body. It’s a variant ofGuillain-Barré syndrome, which is also an uncommon disease.
Miller Fisher syndrome occurs due to inflammatorydemyelination(loss of the protective covering) of the peripheral nerves. The diagnosis of Miller Fisher syndrome involves a clinical examination and diagnostic tests. Immune-modifying treatments can help alleviate symptoms and speed up recovery.
This article describes the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatments, and prognosis of Miller Fisher syndrome.
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Types of Miller Fisher Syndrome
Miller Fisher syndrome is one of several types ofneuropathy(nerve diseases). It is a polyneuropathy (involves multiple nerves).
Types of inflammatory demyelinatingpolyneuropathiesinclude:
Types of Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Miller Fisher Syndrome Symptoms
Miller Fisher syndrome causes muscle weakness. It can affect any muscle in the body, and it most commonly affects the muscles of the face and upper body.
The symptoms of Miller Fisher syndrome are described as a classic triad, which includes:
Other common symptoms of Miller Fisher syndrome include:
Pain is not a typical symptom of Miller Fisher syndrome. Less common symptoms include headaches, loss of taste sensation, and facial weakness appearing after the other symptoms have developed.
The axons of the peripheral nerves are long structures of the nerves that carry electrical signals through the length of the nerve.
Some of the common infections that may precede Miller Fisher syndrome include:
Rarely, Miller Fisher syndrome occurs after immunizations. This is believed to occur when the immunization activates a response in the immune system.
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine to Include Warning About Guillain-Barré Syndrome
The diagnosis of Miller Fisher syndrome is based on a history of symptoms and a physical examination.Sometimes diagnostic tests can be helpful, but they do not consistently show changes in Miller Fisher syndrome.
Tests that may help in the diagnosis of Miller Fisher syndrome include:
Differential Diagnosis
Several other conditions can cause facial weakness or eye-movement weakness, and these must be differentiated from Miller Fisher syndrome.
Other diagnostic considerations include:
Miller Fisher syndrome can be treated, and it may improve on its own without treatment. The outcome of Miller Fisher syndrome is expected to be good. The condition can resolve with time, and treatment can speed up recovery.
In addition to treating the disease process, symptomatic treatment is often necessary.
Symptomatic management can include:
Treatment GoalsThe goals of treatment are to speed resolution of the symptoms, as well as to prevent health complications that can occur as the condition gradually improves.
Treatment Goals
The goals of treatment are to speed resolution of the symptoms, as well as to prevent health complications that can occur as the condition gradually improves.
Summary
Miller Fisher syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that occurs due to inflammatory demyelination of the axons of the peripheral nerves, primarily of the face and upper extremity. It is considered a variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome, which is also a rare, inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the peripheral nerves.
The condition is often idiopathic (without a cause), but it can occur as a result of dysregulation of the immune system following a brief or mild infection. Diagnosis is based on clinical examination, and some diagnostic tests can be helpful.
Treatment involves immune regulation, such as steroids, immunoglobulin, or plasmapheresis. The outcome is usually good, and Miller Fisher syndrome is not considered to be fatal. However, if breathing is impaired, respiratory support is necessary.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Miller Fisher syndromeHsueh HW, Chang KC, Chao CC, Hsieh ST.A pilot study on serial nerve ultrasound in Miller Fisher syndrome.Front Neurol.2020;11:865. doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.00865Jung JH, Oh EH, Shin JH, Kim DS, Choi SY, Choi KD, Choi JH.Atypical clinical manifestations of Miller Fisher syndrome.Neurol Sci.2019;40(1):67-73. doi:10.1007/s10072-018-3580-2Finsterer J.Guillain-Barre/Miller-Fisher overlap syndrome or acute, motor and sensory, axonal neuropathy with cranial nerve involvement?Hum Vaccin Immunother.2022;18(7):2149208. doi:10.1080/21645515.2022.2149208Zhao M, Gu Y, Zhao J, Li N.AntiGQ1b antibody positive with MFS/GBS overlapped syndrome with diplopia and hemiplegia onset: Case report and retrospective analysis.Medicine (Baltimore).2022;101(37):e30584. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000030584
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Miller Fisher syndromeHsueh HW, Chang KC, Chao CC, Hsieh ST.A pilot study on serial nerve ultrasound in Miller Fisher syndrome.Front Neurol.2020;11:865. doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.00865Jung JH, Oh EH, Shin JH, Kim DS, Choi SY, Choi KD, Choi JH.Atypical clinical manifestations of Miller Fisher syndrome.Neurol Sci.2019;40(1):67-73. doi:10.1007/s10072-018-3580-2Finsterer J.Guillain-Barre/Miller-Fisher overlap syndrome or acute, motor and sensory, axonal neuropathy with cranial nerve involvement?Hum Vaccin Immunother.2022;18(7):2149208. doi:10.1080/21645515.2022.2149208Zhao M, Gu Y, Zhao J, Li N.AntiGQ1b antibody positive with MFS/GBS overlapped syndrome with diplopia and hemiplegia onset: Case report and retrospective analysis.Medicine (Baltimore).2022;101(37):e30584. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000030584
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Miller Fisher syndromeHsueh HW, Chang KC, Chao CC, Hsieh ST.A pilot study on serial nerve ultrasound in Miller Fisher syndrome.Front Neurol.2020;11:865. doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.00865Jung JH, Oh EH, Shin JH, Kim DS, Choi SY, Choi KD, Choi JH.Atypical clinical manifestations of Miller Fisher syndrome.Neurol Sci.2019;40(1):67-73. doi:10.1007/s10072-018-3580-2Finsterer J.Guillain-Barre/Miller-Fisher overlap syndrome or acute, motor and sensory, axonal neuropathy with cranial nerve involvement?Hum Vaccin Immunother.2022;18(7):2149208. doi:10.1080/21645515.2022.2149208Zhao M, Gu Y, Zhao J, Li N.AntiGQ1b antibody positive with MFS/GBS overlapped syndrome with diplopia and hemiplegia onset: Case report and retrospective analysis.Medicine (Baltimore).2022;101(37):e30584. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000030584
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Miller Fisher syndrome
Hsueh HW, Chang KC, Chao CC, Hsieh ST.A pilot study on serial nerve ultrasound in Miller Fisher syndrome.Front Neurol.2020;11:865. doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.00865
Jung JH, Oh EH, Shin JH, Kim DS, Choi SY, Choi KD, Choi JH.Atypical clinical manifestations of Miller Fisher syndrome.Neurol Sci.2019;40(1):67-73. doi:10.1007/s10072-018-3580-2
Finsterer J.Guillain-Barre/Miller-Fisher overlap syndrome or acute, motor and sensory, axonal neuropathy with cranial nerve involvement?Hum Vaccin Immunother.2022;18(7):2149208. doi:10.1080/21645515.2022.2149208
Zhao M, Gu Y, Zhao J, Li N.AntiGQ1b antibody positive with MFS/GBS overlapped syndrome with diplopia and hemiplegia onset: Case report and retrospective analysis.Medicine (Baltimore).2022;101(37):e30584. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000030584
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