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Electrophysiological approach to the study of essential tremor in children and adolescents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 August 2003

C Fusco ,
J Valls-Solé ,
C Iturriaga ,
J Colomer  and
E Fernández-Alvarez
C Fusco
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Ospedale Maggiore, University of Parma, Italy.
J Valls-Solé
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Spain.
C Iturriaga
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, Child Neurology Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Spain.
J Colomer
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, Child Neurology Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Spain.
E Fernández-Alvarez
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, Child Neurology Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Spain.
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Abstract

Surface electromyography and accelerometry provide essential information on the neurophysiological characteristics of essential tremor. There are many reports on neurophysiological features in adult-onset essential tremor, but to our knowledge there have been no similar investigations of essential tremor in children. We conducted a neurophysiological study of nine children, six males and three females, with definite essential tremor. They were subdivided into two groups according to age: a ‘children's group’, consisting of four patients aged from 7 to 12 years, and an ‘adolescent group’, consisting of five patients aged from 14 to 16 years. Finger tremor as opposed to hand tremor was studied. In children the mean tremor frequency was 5.3Hz (SD 0.5) with arms extended, which increased to 8.2Hz (SD 1.5) when we added a mass of 300g. In adolescents the mean tremor frequency was 9.0Hz (SD 1.4) with arms extended, and 7.2Hz (SD 1.8) with added mass. We discuss several hypotheses to find an explanation for these results.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology , Volume 45 , Issue 9 , September 2003 , pp. 624 - 627
Copyright
© 2003 Mac Keith Press

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