TY - JOUR
T1 - The blink reflex in patients with idiopathic torsion dystonia
AU - Nakashima, K.
AU - Rothwell, J. C.
AU - Thompson, P. D.
AU - Day, B. L.
AU - Berardelli, A.
AU - Agostino, R.
AU - Artieda, J.
AU - Papas, S. M.
AU - Obeso, J. A.
AU - Marsden, C. D.
PY - 1990
Y1 - 1990
N2 - The blink reflex and its recovery cycle were examined in 57 patients with idiopathic dystonia affecting different parts of the body. The group comprised 9 patients with generalized and 15 with segmental forms, 19 with torticollis, and 14 with focal arm dystonia. None had blepharospasm. The duration and amplitude of the R2 component of the blink reflex showed only minor changes. However, its recovery cycle to paired supraorbital nerve stimuli was abnormal in all groups of patients, except those with focal arm dystonia. These findings may be interpreted as showing abnormal control of the interneuronal networks mediating the blink reflex in patients with dystonia affecting sites other than the facial muscles. The fact that the principal changes were seen in patients with torticollis, and generalized or segmental dystonia, suggests that the extent of dystonia (rather than the severity) and, therefore, the close proximity to the cranial muscles was important in determining the extent of the abnormal interneuron function.
AB - The blink reflex and its recovery cycle were examined in 57 patients with idiopathic dystonia affecting different parts of the body. The group comprised 9 patients with generalized and 15 with segmental forms, 19 with torticollis, and 14 with focal arm dystonia. None had blepharospasm. The duration and amplitude of the R2 component of the blink reflex showed only minor changes. However, its recovery cycle to paired supraorbital nerve stimuli was abnormal in all groups of patients, except those with focal arm dystonia. These findings may be interpreted as showing abnormal control of the interneuronal networks mediating the blink reflex in patients with dystonia affecting sites other than the facial muscles. The fact that the principal changes were seen in patients with torticollis, and generalized or segmental dystonia, suggests that the extent of dystonia (rather than the severity) and, therefore, the close proximity to the cranial muscles was important in determining the extent of the abnormal interneuron function.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0025363848&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0025363848&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1001/archneur.1990.00530040055019
DO - 10.1001/archneur.1990.00530040055019
M3 - Article
C2 - 2322135
AN - SCOPUS:0025363848
VL - 47
SP - 413
EP - 416
JO - Archives of Neurology
JF - Archives of Neurology
SN - 0003-9942
IS - 4
ER -