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Diagnostic value of blink reflex in multisystem atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy and Parkinson disease
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, 8 Kondratowicza str, 03-242 Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Warsaw, Poland
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Abstract
Abnormal blink reflex (BR) is a result of reticular brainstem pathways dysfunction and seems to be one of the features of brain degenerative disorders.
The aim of the study was to estimate the diagnostic value of blink reflex in neurodegenerative diseases such as: multisystem atrophy (MSA), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and Parkinson disease (PD).
Material consisted of 99 patients with clinically probable MSA (51), PSP (28) and PD (20). MSA patients were divided into two subgroups, with dominant cerebellar (MSA-C) and parkinsonian signs (MSA-P). The mean age of patients was 64.9 years (47–79 years); males – 55.3%.
Blink reflex was obtained in a typical way.
ResultsThe significant differences in mean values of blink reflex latencies between PD and other subgroups (MSA-P, MSA-C, PSP) were found, but all of them were in normal range. In individual patients with PD and PSP (50% and 18%, respectively) delayed R2 latencies were recorded.
ConclusionsThe most frequently abnormal blink reflexes, comparing the MSA, PSP and PD groups, were present in PD patients. We postulate that this may be explained by pathological influence of nigrostriatal pathway on the circuit linking the basal ganglia, cerebellum and brainstem.
Abstract
Abnormal blink reflex (BR) is a result of reticular brainstem pathways dysfunction and seems to be one of the features of brain degenerative disorders.
The aim of the study was to estimate the diagnostic value of blink reflex in neurodegenerative diseases such as: multisystem atrophy (MSA), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and Parkinson disease (PD).
Material consisted of 99 patients with clinically probable MSA (51), PSP (28) and PD (20). MSA patients were divided into two subgroups, with dominant cerebellar (MSA-C) and parkinsonian signs (MSA-P). The mean age of patients was 64.9 years (47–79 years); males – 55.3%.
Blink reflex was obtained in a typical way.
ResultsThe significant differences in mean values of blink reflex latencies between PD and other subgroups (MSA-P, MSA-C, PSP) were found, but all of them were in normal range. In individual patients with PD and PSP (50% and 18%, respectively) delayed R2 latencies were recorded.
ConclusionsThe most frequently abnormal blink reflexes, comparing the MSA, PSP and PD groups, were present in PD patients. We postulate that this may be explained by pathological influence of nigrostriatal pathway on the circuit linking the basal ganglia, cerebellum and brainstem.
Keywords
Blink reflex, Multisystem atrophy, Progressive supranuclear palsy, Parkinson disease
Title
Diagnostic value of blink reflex in multisystem atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy and Parkinson disease
Journal
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska
Issue
Pages
336-341
Page views
616
Article views/downloads
758
DOI
10.1016/j.pjnns.2016.06.001
Bibliographic record
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2016;50(5):336-341.
Keywords
Blink reflex
Multisystem atrophy
Progressive supranuclear palsy
Parkinson disease
Authors
Elzbieta Szmidt-Salkowska
Malgorzata Gawel
Zygmunt Jamrozik
Joanna Salkowska-Wanat
Damian Gawel
Anna Kaminska