Action tremor in Parkinson's disease: frequency and relationship to motor and non‐motor signs. (3rd November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gigante, A. F.; Bruno, G.; Iliceto, G.; Guido, M.; Liuzzi, D.; Mancino, P. V.; De Caro, M. F.; Livrea, P.; Defazio, G.
• Is Part Of: European journal of neurology. Volume 22:Number 2(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 223
• Page End: 228
• Publication Date: 2014-11-03
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1111/ene.12583
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-5101

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ene12583-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="ene12583-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background and purpose</title> <p>Action tremor may occur in patients with Parkinson's disease and cause misdiagnosis with other movement disorders such as essential tremor and dystonia. Data on the frequency of action tremor in Parkinson's disease and on the relationships with other motor and non‐motor signs are limited.</p> </sec> <sec id="ene12583-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A cross‐sectional study of 237 patients with Parkinson's disease staging 1–2 on the Hoehn−Yahr scale was conducted. Data on action tremor and other motor and non‐motor signs were collected using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III and the Non‐Motor Symptoms Scale.</p> </sec> <sec id="ene12583-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Action tremor was found in 46% of patients and was associated with both severity of rest tremor (adjusted odds ratio 3.0, <italic>P</italic> < 0.001) and severity of rigidity (adjusted odds ratio 1.5, <italic>P</italic> = 0.004). No association was found between action tremor and severity of bradykinesia (adjusted odds ratio 0.97, <italic>P</italic> = 0.4) or axial symptoms (adjusted odds ratio 0.9, <italic>P</italic> = 0.3). Moreover, patients who had action tremor reported a significant lower mean number of non‐motor symptoms than those who had not (2.1 ± 1.3 vs. 2.4 ± 1.3; <italic>P</italic> = 0.04).</p> </sec> <sec id="ene12583-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Action tremor is a relatively frequent motor sign in patients with Parkinson's disease staging 1–2 on the Hoehn−Yahr scale. Action tremor correlates with rest tremor and rigidity and may be associated with a lower burden of non‐motor symptoms. These findings suggest a contribution of non‐dopaminergic mechanisms to action tremor pathophysiology.</p> </sec> </abstract>