Opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome (OMS) or dancing eye syndrome (DES)

The key features of OMS are unsteadiness (ataxia), jerky movements of the trunk and limbs (myoclonus), rapid involuntary eye movements in all directions (opsoclonus) and usually marked irritability with sleep disturbance.

The occurrence of marked irritability with behavioural change and sleep disturbance in an infant with new onset ataxia is one of the strongest clues that this may be OMS. Most children develop the condition in the first few years of life but rarely it may occur earlier or later. In children the condition may occur with no clear trigger or it may follow a viral illness or it may be associated with a neuroblastoma.

OMS is thought to be an autoimmune disorder although further research is needed to prove the actual mechanism of how the condition develops. Autoimmune disorders occur when the body mistakenly attacks itself rather than a foreign invader such as a bacterium or virus.

It appears that in OMS an area of the brain called the cerebellum is attacked. The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating eye movements, muscle coordination and speech. Around half of children diagnosed with OMS are found to have a neuroblastoma tumour. This is usually, but not always, a benign form of the tumour. Most children identified with a neuroblastoma will need to undergo staging and surgical resection, followed by monitoring by the neuro-oncology team. Treatment of the neuroblastoma, while important in its own right, does not appear to alter the outcome of OMS.

In children who do not have neuroblastoma, the condition may follow an infectious illness or no clear trigger may be found.

The symptoms of OMS are very variable and may not all be present at the same time. Typically opsoclonus myoclonus appears around the age of one to two years but can occur at any time in childhood.

Unsteadiness (ataxia) and muscle jerks affecting all or some areas of the body are usually the first symptom to appear. Muscle tone seems to decrease causing floppiness and lethargy (tiredness). Behavioural problems, irritability and sleep disturbance are also present. These symptoms tend to appear quite quickly, often leading to skills such as sitting and walking being lost in a matter of days. Speech difficulties also occur, for instance losing previously-fluent speech or not speaking at all. Rapid eye movements are one of the later symptoms to develop.

There is much discussion around how best to diagnose OMS and diagnostic criteria have been agreed. To be diagnosed with OMS, a child must have three of the following four conditions:

• rapid eye movement (opsoclonus or ocular flutter)
• ataxia (unsteadiness) or jerky muscle spasms (myoclonus)
• behavioural or sleep problems and
• neuroblastoma.

OMS can be mistaken for other similar appearing conditions, so diagnosis at a specialist centre is advised.

Affected children undergo extensive investigations including MRI brain scan and infection screening (blood tests and a lumbar puncture) to exclude the presence of alternative central nervous system disorders. Children are also examined for the possibility of an underlying neuroblastoma, including an MRI scan of the body (perhaps with a specific nuclear medicine scan such as an MIBG scan), urine tests and ultrasound.

The aims of treatment are two fold, firstly to treat the neuroblastoma tumour if present and secondly to treat the neuroinflammation.

Neuroblastoma tumours in children with OMS are usually very small so are best removed using surgery. Occasionally chemotherapy or radiotherapy is needed before and afterwards, especially if the entire tumour cannot be removed during the operation.

The immune system is modulated by using a combination of medicines. Steroids are given either by mouth or in ‘pulses’ intravenously (into a vein), sometimes alongside another medicine such as rituximab. Rituximab removes some of the white blood cells in the body called B cells. Sometimes another medicine called cyclophosphamide is used instead of rituximab but this affects all types of blood cell. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), which damps down the immune system, may also be used. Treatment continues until the symptoms of OMS improve.

There may be many different people involved at GOSH and these may change over the years. This may seem confusing, but different members of the team can help children and young people with OMS in different ways.

These are doctors who have specialist knowledge of OMS and other neuroimmunology conditions in children and young people. They play an important role in diagnosing, treating and prescribing appropriate treatment. This is the person you will see each time you come to your appointment in the clinic.

This highly specialised doctor will treat your child’s neuroblastoma (if they have one) before and after surgical removal with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

These are the highly specialist doctors who will remove your child’s neuroblastoma (if they have one) in an operation.

Your clinical nurse specialist works closely with the neurologists. They have an in-depth knowledge of the condition and are usually your main contact person in between appointments.

Clinical Psychologists can support children, young people and their families in many aspects of care. Feelings of anger, anxiety, fear and sadness, for example, are common and understanding and managing these may be easier with the support of the Clinical Psychologist.

We know that opsoclonus myoclonus affects a person’s brain, and as a result there can sometimes be effects on a person’s ability to concentrate, on their memory and on their learning. Neuropsychological testing will help identify specific strengths and weaknesses that your child may be experiencing. The Clinical Neuropsychologist can use the results of the testing to make recommendations to help at school. Even if there are no problems, it is very helpful for us to establish a baseline and re-evaluate progress every few years.

The outlook for children and young people with OMS is variable depending on the severity of the symptoms when the condition is diagnosed. Occasionally children recover fully without treatment. Others respond to treatment partially or incompletely. The majority of children however, will have a chronic relapsing disease course and will require long-term immunosuppressive treatment.

Relapses may be triggered either as the treatment is withdrawn or following a viral infection. Many children will experience ongoing problems with learning, coordination, behaviour and sleep. These difficulties require targeted intervention from the wider multidisciplinary team including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. Children with severe initial symptoms and those who are very young when symptoms start are at particular risk of developing long-term effects. It is important for those affected to be identified early as they might benefit from new advances in immunomodulating
therapy in specialist centres.

Once the condition is stable and symptoms are under control, support in school can be helpful. The Dancing Eye Syndrome Trust produces guidance for teachers which may be helpful in recognising support needed.