2005 issue 4

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Volume 14, issue 4

Review article

Clinical characteristics of various forms of tremor

Agnieszka Machowska-Majchrzak1, Krystyna Pierzchała1
1. Katedra i Klinika Neurologii Śląskiej Akademii Medycznej w Zabrzu
Postępy Psychiatrii i Neurologii 2005; 14 (4): 362-336
Keywords: tremor, classification

Abstract

Objectives. Clinical characteristics of various types of tremor and methods used in their treatment are presented on the grounds of the literature.

Background. Tremor is a common symptom of a variety of neurological disorders as well as of other conditions. Thefollowing types of tremor are outlined: physiological, spontaneous, orthostatic, primary writers', of voice, cerebral, rubral (mesencephalic), palatal, associated with peripheral neuropathy, elicited by some kinds of food and drink, induced by drugs and exposure to neurotoxic substances, and psychogenic.

Conclusions. Treatment efficacy depends on a correct diagnosis. Identification of the type of tremor depends on a carefully obtained case history and clinical examination, as well as tremor registration with subsequent analysis of its parameters, particularly amplitude and frequency. Even though drugs are available for effective treatment of various forms of tremor, some types of tremor are resistant to pharmacological treatment. In such cases surgery is an alternative (including thalamotomy, pallidotomy, or grafting of stimulating systems).

Address for correspondence:
Dr Agnieszka Machowska-Majchrzak, Katedra i Klinika Neurologii Śląskiej Akademii Medycznej, ul. 3 Maja 13/15, 41-800 Zabrze, tel. (32) 2710975, fax: (32) 2713018, e-mail: majfam@ka.onet.pl