Huntington disease and Tourette syndrome. I. Electron spin resonance of bed ghosts.

Abnormalities in the electron spin resonance (ESR) of nitroxide-labeled red blood cell membranes have been reported in Huntington disease (HD). Because of the importance of verifying a general membrane defect in this disease, we have examined 13 unmedicated HD patients of all grades of severity, with a duration of symptoms from 3 to 20 years and including juvenile and rigid cases. No significance differences in the ESR of controls, HD patients, and three Tourette syndrome patients were found.