Severe and unclassifiable tremor.

BACKGROUND: Patients often exhibit very severe or disabling forms of tremor that cannot be clearly characterized. OBJECTIVE: To present a series of 37 cases of tremor considered unclassifiable. Patients diagnosed with essential tremor according to criteria of the International Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorder Society (IPDMDS), who had been previously studied, were included as controls. All patients underwent a battery of tests between 2019 and 2022, which enabled us to compare them. METHODS: Relevant demographic and clinical information were collected. The following tools were applied: the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); the Fahn-Tolosa-Marín Tremor Rating Scale (TRS); and the Quality of Life in Essential Tremor (QUEST). A simple brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was performed for all patients. The categorical variables were compared using the Chi-squared test and the t-test with Fisher correction if appropriate, and the quantitative variables were compared through the two-tailed Student t-test. Values of p ≤ 0.01 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The cases presented higher scores on the anxiety and depression subscales of the HADS than the controls (p ≤ 0.006 and 0.000 respectively). In all domains of the TRS, the cases scored significantly higher, as well as in the QUEST. History of enolism was higher among the controls, and history of orthostasis and rest tremor was higher among the cases (p ≤ 0.000). Cerebellar atrophy was present in every patient in the case group, and in 24 subjects in the control group. Dystonia was observed in 7 subjects in the case group, and in none of the patients in the control group. CONCLUSION: There are patients with unclassifiable and extremely disabling tremors who respond poorly to the pharmacological therapy options.

ANTECEDENTES: Os pacientes muitas vezes apresentam formas muito graves ou incapacitantes de tremor que não podem ser claramente caracterizadas. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste trabalho foi apresentar uma série de 37 casos de tremor considerados inclassificáveis. Pacientes diagnosticados com tremor essencial de acordo com os critérios da International Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorder Society (IPDMDS), já estudados anteriormente, foram incluídos como controles. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a exames entre 2019 e 2022 para permitir sua comparaç ão. MéTODOS: As informaç ões demográficas e clínicas relevantes foram coletadas. As seguintes ferramentas foram aplicadas: o Miniexame do Estado Mental (MEEM), a Escala Hospitalar de Ansiedade e Depressão (HADS, do inglês Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), a Escala de Avaliaç ão de Tremor de Fahn-Tolosa-Marín (TRS, do inglês Fahn-Tolosa-Marín Tremor Rating Scale) e a Qualidade de Vida em Tremor Essencial (QUEST, do inglês Quality of Life in Essential Tremor). Uma ressonância magnética simples do cérebro foi realizada em todos os pacientes. As variáveis categóricas foram comparadas pelo teste qui-quadrado e pelo teste t com correç ão de Fisher, se apropriado, enquanto as variáveis quantitativas foram comparadas por meio do teste t de Student bicaudal. Valores de p ≤ 0,01 foram considerados estatisticamente significativos. RESULTADOS: Os casos apresentaram pontuaç ões maiores nas subescalas de ansiedade e depressão do HADS do que os controles (p ≤ 0,006 e 0,000, respectivamente). Em todos os domínios do TRS, a pontuaç ão dos casos foi significativamente maior, assim como no QUEST. O histórico de enolismo foi maior entre os controles e o histórico de ortostase e tremor em repouso foi maior entre os casos (p ≤ 0,000). A atrofia cerebelar foi apresentada por todos os pacientes do grupo de casos e em 24 indivíduos do grupo de controle. A distonia foi observada em sete indivíduos do grupo de casos e em nenhum dos pacientes do grupo controle. CONCLUSãO: Há pacientes com tremores inclassificáveis e extremamente incapacitantes que respondem mal às opç ões terapêuticas farmacológicas.

Dupuytren, Ledderhose, and Peyronie Diseases After Primidone Use For Essential Tremor.

INTRODUCTION: Dupuytren, Ledderhose, and Peyronie diseases are chronic fibrotic conditions related to progressive fibrosis of the palmar fascia, plantar fascia, and tunica albuginea, respectively. These conditions have been associated with antiepileptic drug use, mainly phenobarbital and primidone. CASE REPORT: A 71-year-old man developed simultaneous Dupuytren, Ledderhose, and Peyronie diseases after primidone use for essential tremor. CONCLUSIONS: There are a few reports associating barbiturate use to connective tissue disorders, and some suggest that drug withdrawal may result in a better prognosis. Therefore, physicians must be aware of such adverse events when caring for patients on long-term barbiturate use.

Temblores posanestésicos / Post-anesthetic shivering

Introducción: los temblores posanestésico son causa de una de las mayores insatisfacciones durante el posoperatorio inmediato. Es un fenómeno frecuente, potencialmente perjudicial por aumentar la demanda metabólica de oxígeno. Objetivo: hacer una actualización sobre los temblores Posanestésicos y su profilaxis. Métodos: constituyen una actividad muscular oscilatoria para aumentar la producción de calor. Su etiología es desconocida, aunque se le atribuyen numerosas causas. Su frecuencia oscila entre 6,3 y 66 por ciento. De 5 a 65 por ciento relacionadas con anestesia general y 30 por ciento con anestesia regional. Con anestesia general, la temperatura central disminuye entre 0,5 y 1,5 °C, en la primera hora posterior a la inducción, al igual que en la anestesia regional. Este mecanismo se produce por redistribución del calor del centro a la periferia. Todos los anestésicos, opioides y sedantes disminuyen la vasoconstricción y el control autonómico de la regulación térmica y facilitan la hipotermia. Se presenta con mayor frecuencia en pacientes jóvenes, del sexo masculino, en los cuales se administraron agentes anestésicos halogenados, con tiempo anestésico quirúrgico prolongado. Numerosos artículos señalan, que en las especies homeotérmicas se presenta un sistema termorregulador que coordina la defensa contra la temperatura ambiental, para mantener la temperatura interna en un umbral estrecho. La combinación de agentes inductores anestésicos y exposición al ambiente frío hacen que los pacientes presenten temblores posanestésicos. Su profilaxis está dada por el uso de meperidina, clonidina y tramadol. La ketamina, es una fenciclidina, que produce disociación electrofisiológica entre los sistemas límbico y cortical. Se une a dos dianas moleculares en el encéfalo: las terminaciones dopaminérgicas en el núcleo accumbens y los receptores de N-metil de aspartato. Cuando la ketamina se une a dichos receptores, inhibe la liberación de dopamina. Conclusiones: los temblores Posanestésicos constituyen un efecto adverso de la anestesia que pueden ser evitados. La ketamina, por su mecanismo de acción parece jugar un papel en su profilaxis, pues al bloquear dicho receptor se infiere que es posible que module, en alguna medida, la regulación térmica en varios niveles(AU)

Introduction: post-anesthetic shivering is caused by one of the greatest dissatisfactions during the immediate postoperative period. It is a common event, also potentially damaging because it increases the metabolic demand for oxygen. Objective: To make an update on post-anesthetic shivering and its prophylaxis. Methods: It constitutes an oscillatory muscle activity to increase heat production. Its etiology is unknown, although it is attributed to many causes. Its frequency varies between 6.3 and 66 percent. 5 to 65 percent are related to general anesthesia, and 30 percent to regional anesthesia. Under general anesthesia, the central temperature decreases from 0.5 to 1.5 °C in the first hour after induction, as in regional anesthesia. This mechanism is caused by redistribution of heat from the center to the periphery. All anesthetics, opioids and sedatives decrease vasoconstriction and the autonomic control of thermal regulation, and facilitate hypothermia. It occurs most often in young patients, male, to whom halogenated anesthetic agents are administered with anesthetic prolonged surgical time. Many items indicate that in the homeothermic species a thermoregulator system is present, which coordinates the defense against the environmental temperature to maintain the internal temperature in a narrow threshold. The combination of anesthetic inducing agents and exposure to cold environment make patients present post-anesthetic shivering. Prophylaxis is attained by using meperidine, clonidine and tramadol. Ketamine is a phencyclidine, which produces electrophysiological dissociation between the limbic and cortical systems. It is bound to two molecular targets in the brain: dopaminergic terminals in the accumbens nucleus and the N-methyl aspartate receptor. When ketamine binds to these receptors, it inhibits the release of dopamine. Conclusions: Post-anesthetic shivering constitutes an adverse effect of anesthesia, which can be avoided. Ketamine, for its action mechanism, seem to play a role in prevention, because when such receptor is blocked, it is inferred to module, at some extent, thermal regulation at various levels(AU)

Patients with essential tremor can have manual dexterity and attention deficits with no impairments in other cognitive functions.

Essential tremor (ET) was long believed to be a monosymptomatic disorder. However, studies have evidenced structural changes and attention is now being focused on non-motor symptoms. The objective of the study is to describe and compare ET patients with control groups according to their cognitive functions, and secondarily, to compare their sociodemographic characteristics and other clinical features. All participants were assessed using the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin Tremor Rating Scale for the severity of tremor; a neuropsychological assessment battery and a screening questionnaire for mood and anxiety symptoms. There were no significant age and gender differences between all groups. As for neuropsychological assessment results, a significant difference was found only in the Pegboard test. We also found a significant negative correlation between a poorer cognitive test results and disease severity and a significant differences regarding depression or anxiety symptoms in patients with ET. The study results suggest that patients with ET have impaired manual dexterity and attention.

Patients with essential tremor can have manual dexterity and attention deficits with no impairments in other cognitive functions / Pacientes com tremor essencial podem apresentar prejuízo na destreza manual e déficit de atenção sem prejuízo em outras áreas da cognição

ABSTRACT Essential tremor (ET) was long believed to be a monosymptomatic disorder. However, studies have evidenced structural changes and attention is now being focused on non-motor symptoms. The objective of the study is to describe and compare ET patients with control groups according to their cognitive functions, and secondarily, to compare their sociodemographic characteristics and other clinical features. All participants were assessed using the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin Tremor Rating Scale for the severity of tremor; a neuropsychological assessment battery and a screening questionnaire for mood and anxiety symptoms. There were no significant age and gender differences between all groups. As for neuropsychological assessment results, a significant difference was found only in the Pegboard test. We also found a significant negative correlation between a poorer cognitive test results and disease severity and a significant differences regarding depression or anxiety symptoms in patients with ET. The study results suggest that patients with ET have impaired manual dexterity and attention.

RESUMO O tremor essencial (TE) era considerado como um transtorno monossintomático. Contudo estudos tem demonstrado alterações anatômicas despertando o interesse para sintomas não-motores.O objetivo do estudo é descrever e comparar pacientes com grupos controles segundo suas funções cognitivas, e secundariamente, comparar suas características demográficas e outros sintomas clínicos. Todos os participantes foram submetidos à escala de Fahn, Tolosa e Marin para avaliação da intensidade do tremor, a uma bateria neuropsicológica e a um questionário para detecção de transtorno de humor e ansiedade. Não houve diferença significativa na idade e gênero entre todos os grupos. Quanto ao resultado da avaliação neuropsicológica, foi encontrado uma diferença significativa apenas no Test Pegboard. Nós também encontramos uma correlação negativa no desempenho dos testes cognitivos e intensidade do tremor, presença de sintomas depressivos e ansiosos. Os resultados deste trabalho sugerem que pacientes com TE apresentem alteração na destreza manual e na atenção.