Background: Ranitidine has not been considered as a potential cause of ocular movement conditions. However, it is known that the vestibular nucleus complex, that has a key role in gaze control and vestibule-ocular reflexes, receives hypothalamic histaminergic innervations. Some studies reported the effect of ranitidine blocking the excitatory responses of vestibular nuclei neurons to histamine.
Case report: We report the first case of a downbeat nystagmus secondary to ranitidine in an infant. A 3-month-old female developed a downbeat gaze after starting treatment with ranitidine for a pediatric gastroesophageal reflux disease. Microbiological test were negative and neuroblastoma evaluation was normal.
Conclusion: As ranitidine is widely prescribed in the pediatric population, clinicians should be aware of its potential to cause ocular movements disorders.
Keywords: Infant; Nystagmus; Ocular movement disorder; Ranitidine.
Copyright © 2017 European Paediatric Neurology Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.