Myung-Sik Lee1, Hyun-Sook Kim, Chul-Hyoung Lyoo. 1. Department of Neurology, Youngdong Severance Hospital, 146-92 Dogok-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea. myungs56@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between temporal discrimination threshold (TDT) and "off" period gait freezing (OGF) in patients with fluctuating Parkinson disease (PD). METHODS: TDT values were measured at the dorsum of the toes in 11 control subjects and 22 patients with PD with a wearing-off phenomenon (16 patients with OGF and 6 patients without OGF). RESULTS: During the l-dopa "off" period, TDT values increased abnormally in both patient groups but were significantly higher in patients with OGF than in those without OGF. A positive correlation was found between the severity of OGF and TDT values measured by different point stimulation. In patients with OGF, a single dose of l-dopa treatment normalized TDT values and ameliorated OGF. CONCLUSIONS: Dopa-responsive abnormal discriminative sensory processing may be a possible cause of "off" period gait freezing observed in patients with fluctuating Parkinson disease.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between temporal discrimination threshold (TDT) and "off" period gait freezing (OGF) in patients with fluctuating Parkinson disease (PD). METHODS: TDT values were measured at the dorsum of the toes in 11 control subjects and 22 patients with PD with a wearing-off phenomenon (16 patients with OGF and 6 patients without OGF). RESULTS: During the l-dopa "off" period, TDT values increased abnormally in both patient groups but were significantly higher in patients with OGF than in those without OGF. A positive correlation was found between the severity of OGF and TDT values measured by different point stimulation. In patients with OGF, a single dose of l-dopa treatment normalized TDT values and ameliorated OGF. CONCLUSIONS:Dopa-responsive abnormal discriminative sensory processing may be a possible cause of "off" period gait freezing observed in patients with fluctuating Parkinson disease.
Authors: Matthew A Albrecht; Mathew T Martin-Iverson; Greg Price; Joseph Lee; Rajan Iyyalol; Flavie Waters Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2011-03-23 Impact factor: 4.530