Re-Emergent and Pure Postural Tremors in Parkinson Disease

Understanding the differences in tremors in these patients can help improve their care.

Most clinicians associate Parkinson disease (PD) with a resting tremor, although shaking may be absent in 20% of patients. The current researchers examined postural tremors in 73 patients with PD and resting tremors.

The investigators measured the forearm electromyogram (EMG) off and on dopaminergic medications. An automated two-step cluster analysis was performed on the frequency difference of postural tremor with resting tremor, the degree of tremor suppression after taking a posture, and the response to dopaminergic medication. Of the patients, 14 (19%) had resting tremor only; of those with postural tremors, 48 (81%) had re-emergent tremor as described previously by Jankovic (J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr 1999; 67:646) and 11 (19%) had pu…

Reviewing Author

Michael S. Okun, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America

Speaker’s BureauMedscape/WebMD CME, Movement Disorders Society CME, American Academy of Neurology CME

RoyaltiesBooks4Patients; Demos; Cambridge; Taylor and Francis; Robert Rose; Public Affairs

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; Parkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America; University of Florida Foundation

Editorial BoardsTremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements; JAMA Neurology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesParkinson’s Foundation (Medical Advisor)