| Abstract | For patients presenting predominantly or purely with tremor, the correct diagnosis of tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease (PD) versus essential tremor (ET) is very important for prognosis and effective therapy. ET tremor is usually characterized by symmetric bilateral postural and kinetic tremor, which may respond to low alcohol consumption. Many patients have a family history of ET tremors. Medical treatment with primidone or beta-blockers effectively controls ET tremor, but in many cases no treatment is needed at all. The typical tremor form of PD is an asymmetric rest tremor, which is treated with dopaminergic agents such as levodopa. Differential diagnosis of ET and PD may be difficult in a subset of PD patients who present with additional postural and kinetic tremor and in a minority of ET patients who show a clear asymmetry of their postural and kinetic tremor. In some patients with ET, the tremor can later become severe and even require treatment with deep brain stimulation. |
| Authors | Alexander Wolters, Reiner Benecke
(Affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Universität Rostock. alexander.wolters at med.uni-rostock.de)
|
| Journal | MMW Fortschritte der Medizin
(MMW Fortschr Med)
Vol. 149 Suppl 2
Pg. 94-6
(May 21 2007)
ISSN: 1438-3276 Germany |
| Vernacular Title | Benigner Tremor oder Morbus Parkinson? Die Abgrenzung ist für die Therapie entscheidend. |
| PMID | 17724978
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, English Abstract, Journal Article, Review)
|
| Chemical References |
- Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
- Anticonvulsants
- Antiparkinson Agents
- Levodopa
- Primidone
- Amantadine
|
| Topics |
- Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Amantadine
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Anticonvulsants
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Antiparkinson Agents
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Disease Progression
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Electroencephalography
- Humans
- Levodopa
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Middle Aged
- Parkinson Disease
(diagnosis, drug therapy)
- Practice Guidelines as Topic
- Primidone
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Tremor
(chemically induced, diagnosis, drug therapy, genetics)
|
