BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of freezing of gait (FOG) is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationships between FOG and other parkinsonian features in Parkinson's disease (PD), focusing on levodopa effects. METHODS: Nineteen PD patients with significant FOG in "off" were assessed while "off" and "on". Three observers independently viewed videotapes of a 130-m walk and scored FOG frequency. The Unified Parkinson's disease Rating Scale was used to evaluate clinical state. RESULTS: FOG frequency was not correlated with other parkinsonian features in "off" and only with speech and writing in "on". Levodopa significantly decreased FOG frequency (p<0.001). This reduction was strongly correlated with improvement of tremor (R=0.80, p<0.01) and speech (R=0.62, p<0.05), but not with improvement in rigidity, bradykinesia, or balance. CONCLUSION: Levodopa decreases FOG in PD. FOG is apparently an independent motor symptom, caused by a paroxysmal pathology that is different from that responsible for bradykinesia, rigidity or postural instability.
BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of freezing of gait (FOG) is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationships between FOG and other parkinsonian features in Parkinson's disease (PD), focusing on levodopa effects. METHODS: Nineteen PDpatients with significant FOG in "off" were assessed while "off" and "on". Three observers independently viewed videotapes of a 130-m walk and scored FOG frequency. The Unified Parkinson's disease Rating Scale was used to evaluate clinical state. RESULTS:FOG frequency was not correlated with other parkinsonian features in "off" and only with speech and writing in "on". Levodopa significantly decreased FOG frequency (p<0.001). This reduction was strongly correlated with improvement of tremor (R=0.80, p<0.01) and speech (R=0.62, p<0.05), but not with improvement in rigidity, bradykinesia, or balance. CONCLUSION:Levodopa decreases FOG in PD. FOG is apparently an independent motor symptom, caused by a paroxysmal pathology that is different from that responsible for bradykinesia, rigidity or postural instability.
Authors: Patrick G Bissett; Gordon D Logan; Nelleke C van Wouwe; Christopher M Tolleson; Fenna T Phibbs; Daniel O Claassen; Scott A Wylie Journal: J Neural Transm (Vienna) Date: 2015-09-09 Impact factor: 3.575
Authors: A Tessitore; M Amboni; G Cirillo; D Corbo; M Picillo; A Russo; C Vitale; G Santangelo; R Erro; M Cirillo; F Esposito; P Barone; G Tedeschi Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2012-04-26 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: Conrad Tucker; Yixiang Han; Harriet Black Nembhard; Mechelle Lewis; Wang-Chien Lee; Nicholas W Sterling; Xuemei Huang Journal: IIE Trans Healthc Syst Eng Date: 2015-11-20