Frequency of apraxia of eyelid opening in the general population and in patients with extrapyramidal disorders.
We ascertained the prevalence of apraxia of eyelid opening (AEO) in a community located in Puglia, a region of southern Italy. The crude prevalence rate was 59 per million (95% confidence interval, 24-173). AEO coexisted with adult onset blepharospasm in 75% of cases, with atypical parkinsonism in 25% of cases. Among the overall patient population seen at our movement disorders clinic from 1987 to 1997, AEO was isolated in 10 otherwise healthy individuals, associated with adult-onset dystonia in 13 cases, and associated with a parkinsonian syndrome in 9 cases. The frequency of AEO was 10.8% in the dystonia group, and 2.1% in the overall parkinsonian group (Parkinson's disease, 0.7%; progressive supranuclear palsy, 33.3%). In two patients with possible progressive supranuclear palsy, AEO worsened after increasing levodopa dosage or acute apomorphine challenge and disappeared following levodopa discontinuation. AEO developing in the setting of a parkinsonian syndrome may be either disease- or drug-related.
Lamberti
P
P
Department of Neurologic and Psychiatric Sciences, Section of Neurology, University of Bari, I-70124 Bari, Italy.
De Mari
M
M
Zenzola
A
A
Aniello
M S
MS
Defazio
G
G
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000009:adverse effects; D001072:Apraxias / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D001764:Blepharospasm / Q000150:complications*; D004421:Dystonia / Q000150:complications; D005143:Eyelids / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000150:complications; D013494:Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / Q000150:complications*
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa; D001058:Apomorphine