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Hello,

My brother has been ill for the past fews days - started with him vomiting & feeling as if the room were spinning & as if he was going to pass out.

He was admitted to hospital on Sat night, where the doctors kept shining a light into his eyes and asking if there was a history of kidney problems within the family before - which we do not know of!

Anyhows, we next over-heard the doctors talking about 'neurological'. He was admitted on to a ward and today he has had a contrast medium injectioned into him & had a CT scan of his brain. They also put more drops into his eyes & gave him a vision field test (which is didn't do very well both with & without drops). He is also experiening some numbness on the side of one of his thighs.

His blood pressure has stayed between 160 - 190 since Sat night.

I am online checking up about CT scans & why they are needed & trying to find a link between all his symptoms.

Anyone any ideas or know of anyone who has these symptons???

2007-10-15 07:34:05 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health Diseases & Conditions Other - Diseases

3 answers

An afferent pupillary defect (APD) occurs when the nerve pathways to the brain fail to properly transmit messages. It can occur from a number of disorders, and ranges from mild to severe. The finding is a sign of an underlying disorder and is not specifically associated with any particular disease.

An afferent pupillary defect is identified by examining the eyes with a bright light. In normal circumstances, when a light is shone in one eye, both pupils constrict. However, when a light is shone in the abnormal eye of a patient with an APD, the pupil of the affected eye paradoxically dilates rather than constricts. This abnormal response signifies the brain is not receiving the message properly.

A mild APD (slight constriction of the affected pupil), may be a sign of underlying amblyopia, vitreous hemorrhage, retinal scars, severe age related macular degeneration, branch retinal vein or artery occlusion, or retinal detachment. If an APD is severe (dilation of the affected pupil), it generally indicates optic nerve disease such as ischemic optic neuropathy, optic neuritis, severe glaucoma, central retinal artery or vein occlusion, or in rare cases, a lesion of the optic chiasm or tract due to a pituitary tumor or stroke.

2007-10-15 07:42:53 · answer #1 · answered by lisa l 3 · 0 0

They may be trying to determine whether your brother suffered a stroke.

2007-10-15 14:38:48 · answer #2 · answered by sleepingliv 7 · 0 0

can be signs of stroke or brain/kidney tumors.......bets of luck to yall..........

2007-10-15 15:00:54 · answer #3 · answered by Steve B 6 · 0 0

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