title: Dopaminergic deficit is not the rule in orthostatic tremor.
abstract: Involvement of the dopaminergic system in orthostatic tremor is controversial. The aim of this study was to detect possible dopaminergic denervation in primary orthostatic tremor (OT). Twelve consecutive patients with a firm diagnosis of primary orthostatic tremor were compared with age-matched normal controls. All the patients had a neurological examination, surface polymyography, and quantification of striatal dopamine transporters with (123)I-FP-CIT SPECT imaging. There was no significant difference in (123)I-FP-CIT SPECT findings between controls and patients with OT. Longstanding primary orthostatic tremor is not necessarily associated with (123)I-FP-CIT SPECT abnormalities, as 8 of our patients had more than a 10-year history of OT. Primary orthostatic tremor without dopaminergic denervation remains a valid entity, although representing only a subtype of high-frequency OT. A new role may emerge for (123)I-FP-CIT SPECT in distinguishing between patients whose symptoms will be restricted to OT throughout the disease course and patients at an increased risk of developing PD. (c) 2008 Movement Disorder Society.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Lariboisière Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Trocello
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zanotti-Fregonara
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roze
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Apartis
authors.forename: André-Pierre
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Legrand
authors.forename: Marie-Odile
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Habert
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Devaux
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vidailhet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004298:Dopamine / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000502:physiology; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods; D014202:Tremor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014326:Tropanes
chemical_list: D014326:Tropanes; C087552:2-carbomethoxy-8-(3-fluoropropyl)-3-(4-iodophenyl)tropane; D004298:Dopamine