Symptoms and duration of the prodromal phase in Parkinson's disease.
To investigate the duration of a prodromal phase before the onset of the classic symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson's disease, the authors conducted a retrospective case-control study of 60 patients with Parkinson's disease and 58 age- and sex-matched control subjects, covering the decade preceding the onset of classic Parkinson's disease. The symptoms were derived from files of the patients' general practitioners. Compared with control subjects, patients pre-Parkinson's disease had more central nervous system, psychologic, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular (i.e., autonomic) symptoms. Patients pre-Parkinson's disease also made more visits to general practitioners and medical specialists. The results indicate that the onset of classic parkinsonism is frequently preceded by a prodromal phase lasting from 4-6 years.
Gonera
E G
EG
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
van't Hof
M
M
Berger
H J
HJ
van Weel
C
C
Horstink
M W
MW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies