Objective: To investigate the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in essential tremor (ET). Methods: Twenty-seven eyes of 27 patients with essential tremor were included in this study. Twentyseven eyes of 27 healthy volunteers served as controls. All eyes were examined with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Retinascan Advanced RS-3000; NIDEK, Gamagori, Japan) using image filling software program (NAVIS-EX, NIDEK, Tokyo, Japan). Results: No statistically significant difference was detected between ET patients and control group for overall (RNFL) and foveal retinal thickness parameters. [RNFL thickness (Average thickness p=0.86, superior average p=0.22, inferior average p=0.24, nasal average p=0.06, temporal average p=0.88), foveal retinal thickness p=0.63] There was no relationship between OCT parameters and age, gender and duration of ET (all p>0.05). Conclusion: We did not find altered RNFL and foveal thickness values in patients with ET compared to controls. Retinal thickness changes do not seem to be a potentially useful biomarker in ET patients.
Essential Tremor

No abstract available.
Dystonia* ; Essential Tremor* ; Tremor*

Essential Tremor ; Humans ; Pedigree

No abstract available.
DNA, Mitochondrial* ; Essential Tremor* ; Humans

Primary writing tremor is considered to be a task-specific tremor occurring when handwriting. We describe the clinical and electrophysiological features of 5 patients. Two of the patients had a family history of the tremor. Alcohol was effective in reducing the tremor in 3 of the patients. Two patients showed a co-contraction and three alternate contractions between agonist and antagonist muscles. The frequency of the tremors was 5 to 6 Hz. Primidone and propranolol were effective in reducing tremor. Considering the clinical and electrophysiological features, it is suggested that primary writing tremor might be a variant of essential tremor. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(1):52~55, 2001
Essential Tremor ; Handwriting ; Humans ; Muscles ; Primidone ; Propranolol ; Tremor* ; Writing*

No abstract available.
DNA, Mitochondrial* ; Essential Tremor* ; Humans ; Parkinson Disease*

Adult ; Essential Tremor ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree

Adult ; Essential Tremor ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree

BACKGROUND: Essential tremor is one of the most common types of movement disorders. Although it is sometimes prefaced with the term 'benign', it often causes significant disabilities. Clinical characteristics and responses to various drugs have not been investigated systematically in Korea. Therefore, we studied the clinical features, electrophysiologic findings, and drug responsiveness of essential tremor. METHODS: Forty-five patients were included in the study by clinical criteria for essential tremor. We investigated their clinical features including tremor type, involved sites, family history, and responsiveness to alcohol. We used an electromyography study to evaluate the contraction patterns between agonist and antagonist muscles and the frequency of tremor. Primidone and propranolol were prescribed to all the patients (N=30) with a sufficient washout period (more than 2weeks) for drug responsiveness. Drug responsiveness was estimat-ed with self-assessment scales. RESULTS: The mean age of patients at the onset of the tremor was 45 years and the average duration of the tremor was 11.1 years. Kinetic tremor was dominant in 17 patients (37.8%) and postural tremor in 28 patients (62.2%). Family history was found in 18 patients (40%) and alcohol reduced tremors in 18 (64.8%) out of 28 patients with sufficient alcohol intake. Co-contraction was seen in 18 patients (40%), alternative contraction in 15 (33.6%), and mixed contraction in 3 (6.7%). Mean frequency was 6.7 Hz. Propranolol reduced tremor in 24 patients (80%), and primidone in 27 patients (90%). CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that essential tremor was heterogenous clinically and electrophysiologically. Primidone was found more effective than propranolol in reducing tremor.
Electromyography ; Essential Tremor* ; Humans ; Korea ; Movement Disorders ; Muscles ; Primidone ; Propranolol ; Self-Assessment ; Tremor ; Weights and Measures

Stereotactic ventrolateral thalamotomy has been successful in treating a wide spectrum of involuntary movement disorders. But very little has been reported concerning their application in essential tremor. Twenty three patients with medically refractory disabling essential tremor underwent ventralis(VL) thalamotomies. The procedure was unilateral in twenty three cases. Contralateral tremor remained abscent or markedly reduced in 22 patients at the time of the most recent follow-up examinations at a mean of 2.9 months after surgery. Disability was determined by a modified form of an estabilished rating scale for termor reported by Fahn and was reduced from a mean score of 11 to 3(p<0.0001) after the operation. Persistent surgical morbidity was limited to three patients with mild dysarthria and two with a mild cognitive impairment. There were no surgically related deaths. It is concluded that stereotactic VL thalamotomy is a treatment option for medically intractable disabling essential tremor.
Dysarthria ; Dyskinesias ; Essential Tremor* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mild Cognitive Impairment ; Movement Disorders ; Tremor