BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To characterize patients with benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) by diagnosis, environmental risk factors, and family history. METHODS: Two hundred and forty patients with BEB were evaluated through a clinical examination and questionnaire. The questionnaire reviewed personal medical history, demographic factors, risk factors for the development of blepharospasm and family history of dystonia and other neurological conditions. RESULTS: Benign essential blepharospasm was more commonly found in women (2.8:1) and 93% of the patients were Caucasian. Fifty percent had pure BEB, 31% had BEB/Meige's syndrome, and 4% had BEB and eyelid opening apraxia (+/- Meige's syndrome). A minority of patients reported preceding photophobia (25%) or other eye conditions (22%). The majority were non-smokers, had no exposure to anti-emetic or antipsychotic agents, had a normal birth history, and had no history of head trauma. Seventy-two percent did report a stressful event immediately prior to the development of symptoms. Treatments reported included botulinum toxin (BoNT), oral medications, surgical procedures, and acupuncture. Thirty-two percent of patients reported a family history of focal dystonia, and BEB was the most commonly reported. CONCLUSION: This study confirms previous reports of usual age, sex, caffeine and tobacco use, and family history in patients with blepharospasm. New findings include a report on occupation, lower reports of preceding eye conditions and photophobia, and higher reported stressful events. Further, this study shows a change in treatment with an increase in BoNT use and decrease in surgical procedures.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To characterize patients with benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) by diagnosis, environmental risk factors, and family history. METHODS: Two hundred and forty patients with BEB were evaluated through a clinical examination and questionnaire. The questionnaire reviewed personal medical history, demographic factors, risk factors for the development of blepharospasm and family history of dystonia and other neurological conditions. RESULTS:Benign essential blepharospasm was more commonly found in women (2.8:1) and 93% of the patients were Caucasian. Fifty percent had pure BEB, 31% had BEB/Meige's syndrome, and 4% had BEB and eyelid opening apraxia (+/- Meige's syndrome). A minority of patients reported preceding photophobia (25%) or other eye conditions (22%). The majority were non-smokers, had no exposure to anti-emetic or antipsychotic agents, had a normal birth history, and had no history of head trauma. Seventy-two percent did report a stressful event immediately prior to the development of symptoms. Treatments reported included botulinum toxin (BoNT), oral medications, surgical procedures, and acupuncture. Thirty-two percent of patients reported a family history of focal dystonia, and BEB was the most commonly reported. CONCLUSION: This study confirms previous reports of usual age, sex, caffeine and tobacco use, and family history in patients with blepharospasm. New findings include a report on occupation, lower reports of preceding eye conditions and photophobia, and higher reported stressful events. Further, this study shows a change in treatment with an increase in BoNT use and decrease in surgical procedures.
Authors: Davide Martino; Giovanni Defazio; Giovanni Abbruzzese; Paolo Girlanda; Michele Tinazzi; Giovanni Fabbrini; Maria Stella Aniello; Laura Avanzino; Carlo Colosimo; Giovanni Majorana; Giuseppe Majorana; Carlo Trompetto; Alfredo Berardelli Journal: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Date: 2006-10-20 Impact factor: 10.154
Authors: G Defazio; D Martino; M S Aniello; G Masi; G Abbruzzese; S Lamberti; E M Valente; F Brancati; P Livrea; A Berardelli Journal: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Date: 2006-02 Impact factor: 10.154
Authors: G Defazio; A Berardelli; G Abbruzzese; V Lepore; V Coviello; D Acquistapace; L Capus; F Carella; M T De Berardinis; G Galardi; P Girlanda; S Maurri; A Albanese; L Bertolasi; R Liguori; A Rossi; L Santoro; G Tognoni; P Livrea Journal: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Date: 1998-01 Impact factor: 10.154
Authors: H A Jinnah; Alfredo Berardelli; Cynthia Comella; Giovanni Defazio; Mahlon R Delong; Stewart Factor; Wendy R Galpern; Mark Hallett; Christy L Ludlow; Joel S Perlmutter; Ami R Rosen Journal: Mov Disord Date: 2013-06-15 Impact factor: 10.338
Authors: Mitchell F Brin; Russell S Kirby; Anne Slavotinek; Mary Ann Miller-Messana; Lori Parker; Irina Yushmanova; Huiying Yang Journal: Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf Date: 2015-12-04 Impact factor: 2.890