Acoustic reflex abnormalities in cranial-cervical dystonia.
Previous anatomic and physiologic studies suggest brainstem dysfunction in cranial-cervical dystonia. To further explore this, we studied suprathreshold acoustic reflex waveforms in 15 such patients. A unique feature of this technique is its ability to reject movement artifacts before averaging the acoustic reflex waveforms. Thirteen patients (87%) showed some abnormality in reflex waveform morphology. There were both amplitude and latency abnormalities. These findings support the hypothesis that cranial-cervical dystonia reflects dysfunction of the brainstem.
Lew
H
H
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
Jordan
C
C
Jerger
J
J
Jankovic
J
J
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D001307:Auditory Perception; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004421:Dystonia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D011930:Reaction Time; D012018:Reflex