Horner's Syndrome

Horner's syndrome: symptoms, causes and treatment

Horner syndrome, named after the Swiss ophthalmologist Johann Friedrich Horner, is a neurological disorder characterized by a complex of symptoms associated with damage to the sympathetic nervous system in the facial area. This syndrome can occur due to various reasons and has certain clinical manifestations.

The main symptoms of Horner's syndrome include the following:

  1. Ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid) is one of the most characteristic manifestations of the syndrome. Ptosis is caused by paralysis of the small muscles of the upper eyelid, responsible for its elevation.
  2. Miosis (constriction of the pupil) - damage to sympathetic fibers leads to involuntary constriction of the pupil.
  3. Anihidrosis (lack of sweating) - Horner's syndrome can also cause impaired sweating in the face, which leads to dry skin.

Horner syndrome can be caused by a variety of diseases and injuries, including:

  1. Damage to the sympathetic nervous system caused by a tumor, injury or infection.
  2. Vascular disorders such as stroke or aneurysm.
  3. Side effects from certain medications.
  4. Congenital abnormalities or genetic disorders.

To diagnose Horner's syndrome, your doctor may do a variety of tests, including neuroimaging (such as an MRI or CT scan of the brain), pupil constriction reflex tests, and sweating tests.

Treatment for Horner's syndrome depends on its cause. In some cases, if the underlying cause can be eliminated, the symptoms of the syndrome may decrease or disappear completely. For example, in the case of a tumor, surgery may be required to remove it. If the syndrome is caused by a vascular disorder, medication or surgical correction may be required.

In some cases, when the cause cannot be completely eliminated, symptomatic treatment is carried out to alleviate the manifestations of Horner's syndrome. This may include prescribing medications to improve muscle tone or restore sympathetic function.

In conclusion, Horner syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by symptoms associated with damage to the sympathetic nervous system in the facial area. Early consultation with a doctor if Horner's syndrome is suspected is important to identify its cause and prescribe appropriate treatment. Modern diagnostic and therapeutic methods can alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life of patients suffering from this syndrome. If you suspect Horner's syndrome, be sure to consult your doctor for professional medical attention.



Horner's syndrome is an inherited disorder that occurs in a variety of forms, including congenital heart defects, multiple limb and abdominal abnormalities, and dysfunction of the nervous system, vision, hearing, and motor skills. This can lead to serious consequences in a person’s life, so timely diagnosis and treatment are necessary. In this article we will look at the main aspects of **horner syndrome**, its symptoms, causes, methods of diagnosis and treatment.

Ganger syndrome (Horner-Bonnevie syndrome) is a familial plexopathy with progressive dementia. The syndrome is associated with microcytic anemia, which can sometimes be overcome by intravenous administration of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) or folic acid. It is characterized by the presence of telangiectasia, thrombosis of small arteries, and vascular disorders of the central nervous system. Progressive disorders of consciousness are observed with compression of the blood-brain barrier, opacities of the cornea, and increased bone fragility. Treatment in the second stage of thought disorder involves the administration of strychnine, vasodilators and aspirin. To increase tissue resistance to ischemic disorders, intravenous drip administration of tranquilizers (bromazepine) in combination with flavinic acid is indicated (0.02 g of sodium adenosine triphosphate, dissolved in 4 ml of a 9% solution of isotonic sodium chloride; then in 1 ml of the resulting solution gradually add 0.1 g of magnesium sulfate and 0.3 g of bromazepam).

**Main symptoms of *Horner syndrome*** *Horner syndrome is manifested by a feeling of chilliness in the extremities. When the patient's face is in a calm position, the veins that are located on it become noticeable. Over time, there is numbness of the knee joint and a decrease in its volume. Visual impairment occurs against the background of excessive lacrimation. There is a drop in visual acuity. Thus, the clinical picture of Horner's syndrome is nonspecific, and sometimes it is difficult to diagnose this particular disease. Therefore, to clarify the diagnosis, computed tomography of the chest organs and ultrasound examination of the heart are required. These pathologies often occur in parallel with Horner's disease. Often there are sharp pains in the heart or behind the sternum, numbness in certain areas, headaches, diarrhea, urinary incontinence, high blood pressure and pain in the abdomen. Of particular danger is the occurrence of coma and convulsions. Horner's syndrome is usually classified as a disease of the cardiovascular system, the disorders of which cause extensive degenerative changes in the brain.