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Difference of Disability Between Electrophysiologic Subgroups of Essential Tremor*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2016

M. Cenk Akbostanci ,
Sedat Ulkatan ,
Aytaç Yigit ,
Nursel Aydin  and
Nermin Mutluer
M. Cenk Akbostanci*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
Sedat Ulkatan
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
Aytaç Yigit
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
Nursel Aydin
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
Nermin Mutluer
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
*
Ankara Üniversitesi, Tip Fakültesi, Ibni Sina Hastanesi, 6. Kat, 06100, Samanpazari, Ankara, Turkey.
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Abstract:

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Objective:

The aim of the study was to test the validity of the controversial subdivision of essential tremor (ET) patients into electrophysiological subgroups.

Methods:

We evaluated a hundred patients with ET using surface electromyographic (EMG) recordings of antagonist forearm muscles and distinguished three groups: the first group showed synchronous activity of antagonistic muscles, the second showed alternating activity of antagonist muscles; and the third group consisted of patients whose EMG recordings were not compatible with the other two groups. We compared patients with synchronous and alternating activity in terms of sex, age at onset, duration of illness, family history of tremor, symmetry and frequency of tremor, and the scores of a disability scale.

Results:

The only significant difference between the patients with synchronous and alternating activity was that the patients with synchronous activity were more disabled.

Conclusion:

This result adds to the evidence for distinct electrophysiological subgroups of ET with distinct clinical properties.

Résumé:

RÉSUMÉ:But:

Le but de cette étude était d'évaluer la validité d'une subdivision controversée des patients présentant un tremblement essentiel (TE) en sous-groupes électrophysiologiques.

Méthodes:

Nous avons évalué cent patients présentant un TE au moyen d'enregistrements électromyographiques (ÉMG) de surface des muscles antagonistes de l'avant-bras et nous les avons divisés en trois groupes. Le premier groupe avait une activité synchrone des muscles antagonistes alors que le second avait une activité alternante des muscles antagonistes. Le troisième groupe était composé de patients dont l'enregistrement ÉMG n'était pas compatible avec ceux des deux autres groupes. Nous avons comparé les patients présentant une activité synchrone à ceux qui présentaient une activité alternante quant au sexe, à l'âge de début, à la durée de la maladie, à l'histoire familiale de tremblement, à la symétrie et à la fréquence du tremblement ainsi qu'au score à l'échelle d'invalidité.

Résultats:

La seule différence significative entre les patients présentant une activité synchrone et une activité alternante était que les patients présentant une activité synchrone avaient un degré d'invalidité supérieur à ceux qui présentaient une activité alternante.

Conclusion:

Ces observations sont en faveur de l'existence de sous-groupes électrophysiologiques distincts, avec des caractéristiques cliniques distinctes, chez les patients atteints de TE.

Type
Original Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 27 , Issue 1 , February 2000 , pp. 60 - 64
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2000

Footnotes

*

Presented at the 8th Meeting and 10th Anniversary of the European Neurological Society, June 6-10, 1998, Nice, France.

References

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