ABSTRACT
Tremor is one of the most frequent movement disorders. The recently published new classification of the Movement Disorder Society separates the clinical description of tremor syndromes as so-called axis 1 symptom constellations from the etiologies of tremor (axis 2). The same tremor syndromes can therefore be combined with different causes and vice versa. The terminology used in this classification is precisely defined and thereby also the necessary language for medical communication. Frequent tremor syndromes, such as enhanced physiologic tremor, dystonic and parkinsonian tremor as well as focal tremors and task and position-specific tremors are discussed with respect to the phenomenology, and current therapy.
Subject(s)
Movement Disorders/classification , Parkinson Disease/classification , Tremor/classification , Dystonic Disorders/classification , Dystonic Disorders/diagnosis , Dystonic Disorders/etiology , Humans , Movement Disorders/diagnosis , Movement Disorders/etiology , Parkinson Disease/diagnosis , Parkinson Disease/etiology , Societies, Medical , Syndrome , Terminology as Topic , Tremor/diagnosis , Tremor/etiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is a group of uncommon sporadic tremor syndromes, which are only partially taken into account in the current classification of tremor. Their knowledge is of diagnostic and therapeutic relevance and they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of frequent tremor syndromes. OBJECTIVE: Differential diagnostics and treatment of uncommon tremor syndromes. METHOD: Literature search (PubMed, Google Scholar). RESULTS: Holmes tremor, myorhythmia, palatal tremor, limb-shaking transient ischemic attack (TIA), tardive tremor, neuropathic tremor, tremor induced by peripheral trauma and orthostatic tremor syndrome are described. CONCLUSION: Uncommon sporadic tremor syndromes are mainly symptomatic with various underlying neurological or systemic pathologies. Their recognition accelerates the diagnostic process and has therapeutic relevance.
Subject(s)
Rare Diseases , Tremor/diagnosis , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Neurologic Examination , Prognosis , Risk Factors , Syndrome , Tremor/classification , Tremor/etiology , Tremor/therapyABSTRACT
Essential tremor is clinically defined but there is increasing evidence that it is not a unique entity. Its pathophysiology has been studied with many methods but may also vary between subtypes. Neurophysiologically, there is strong evidence that a specific cerebello-thalamo-cortical loop is abnormally oscillating. The cause of its uncontrolled oscillation is not yet understood. The clear proof of a degenerative cause is still lacking and abnormal receptors or other causes of altered non-progressive functional disturbance cannot be excluded. Strong evidence supports the major involvement of the cerebellum and there is ample evidence that GABA is the main neurotransmitter involved in the pathophysiology in ET. Genetics have provided so far only a few rare subtypes which are due to specific mutations but there is no doubt that it is mostly a hereditary condition. There is evidence that the large subgroup of late onset tremor is a separate condition and this tremor is an independent risk factor for earlier mortality and comes with signs of premature aging (aging-related tremor). It will be important to improve phenotyping of patients in more detail possibly to include not only features of the tremor itself but also other clinical assessments like force measurements or cognitive testing. Based on these variables, we may be able to better understand the presumably different mechanisms underlying different variants of the disease.
