American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) Practice Exam 2025 - Free ABPN Practice Questions and Study Guide

The condition characterized by ataxia, areflexia, and ophthalmoplegia is Miller-Fisher syndrome. This syndrome is considered a variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome and typically presents with a distinct triad of symptoms: ataxia (which refers to a lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements), areflexia (absence of reflexes), and ophthalmoplegia (weakness or paralysis of the eye muscles resulting in difficulty with eye movement).

Miller-Fisher syndrome is associated with anti-GQ1b antibodies and is usually preceded by a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection. The combination of symptoms specifically points to this syndrome rather than other neurological conditions. In contrast, while Guillain-Barré syndrome shares some features with Miller-Fisher syndrome, it does not usually present with the distinct triad but rather involves motor weakness and sensory disturbances.

Multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis do not typically exhibit ataxia or ophthalmoplegia in the manner seen in Miller-Fisher syndrome, as their symptom profiles are different, focusing more on demyelination and muscle fatigue, respectively. Thus, the distinct collected symptoms of ataxia, areflexia, and ophthalmoplegia firmly identify Miller-Fisher syndrome as the correct answer.