title: Inflammatory myopathy in a patient with postural and kinetik tremor.
abstract: Essential tremor (ET) is a common neurological disease of unknown etiopathogenesis, possibly neurodegenerative, characterized by kinetic tremor at the arms. Here we reported the case of an HCV-positive patient with inflammatory myopathy, who did not develop typical neuromuscular signs or symptoms during at least 7 years of hyperCKemia, in whom kinetic tremor of the arms was the prominent clinical feature, suggesting a possible diagnosis of ET. After 3 months of treatment with corticosteroids/methotrexate, creatine kinase (CK) levels were nearly normal and the tremor was remarkably improved. To our knowledge, similar cases have not been previously reported. Postural tremor can be present in muscular diseases, but only very rarely tremor has been reported as a major clinical feature. Because inflammatory myopathies are potentially treatable conditions it is very important to consider this diagnosis. Our case suggests that in patients with isolated postural and kinetic tremor routine laboratory assays should include CK blood screening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Neurological Clinic, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, Pisa, Italy. d.orsucci@sssup.it
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Orsucci
authors.forename: Michelangelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.forename: Greta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alì
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Calsolaro
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gori
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Siciliano
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D020329:Essential Tremor / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009220:Myositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D008727:Methotrexate