Do primary adult-onset focal dystonias share aetiological factors?

Annals of Neurology, 1991

A genetic study of idiopathic focal dystonias was undertaken by examining 153 first-degree relatives of 40 index patients with torticollis (14 patients), other focal cranial dystonias (16 patients), and writer's cramp (10 patients). Nine relatives with dystonia were identified in 6 families; 8 of these had symptoms such as clumsiness or tremor, but none were aware of any dystonia. A further 4 relatives, now deceased, were affected by history. Overall, 25% of index patients had relatives with dystonia. The results of segregation analysis suggested the presence of an autosomal dominant gene or genes with reduced penetrance as a common cause for focal dystonia. Segregation ratios were not significantly different from those ratios observed in generalized or segmental dystonia in the United Kingdom, and it is possible that a single autosomal dominant gene mutation is responsible for inherited dystonia in the majority of patients irrespective of distribution or severity.

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 2007

Movement Disorders, 2005

Primary focal dystonia (PFD) is known to be a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of movement disorders. To evaluate the frequency of familial focal dystonia in a French population presenting with PFD, we screened 197 patients (150 index cases and 47 affected family members) presenting focal primary dystonia for the GAG deletion in the DYT1 gene and analyzed linkage to the DYT6, DYT7, and DYT13 loci in those who presented a family history. Fourteen families could be recruited and, among them 47 new symptomatic individuals could be identified by clinical examination. A group of 104 patients were without family history and 46 patients (30.7%) were found to have at least one first-degree relative with dystonia. Mean age at onset was significantly later This article includes Supplementary Material, available online at

Movement Disorders, 2013

This report describes the consensus outcome of an international panel consisting of investigators with years of experience in this field that reviewed the definition and classification of dystonia. Agreement was obtained based on a consensus development methodology during 3 in-person meetings and manuscript review by mail. Dystonia is defined as a movement disorder characterized by sustained or intermittent muscle contractions causing abnormal, often repetitive, movements, postures, or both. Dystonic movements are typically patterned and twisting, and may be tremulous. Dystonia is often initiated or worsened by voluntary action and associated with overflow muscle activation. Dystonia is classified along 2 axes: clinical characteristics, including age at onset, body distribution, temporal pattern and associated features (additional movement disorders or neurological features); and etiology, which includes nervous system pathology and inheritance. The clinical characteristics fall into several specific dystonia syndromes that help to guide diagnosis and treatment. We provide here a new general definition of dystonia and propose a new classification. We encourage clinicians and researchers to use these innovative definition and classification and test them in the clinical setting on a variety of patients with dystonia. V

2008

We describe a large family with a primary focal dystonia from a small Dutch village on a former island. Twenty-four individuals spanning three generations were examined by two movement-disorder neurologists. Two other movement-disorder neurologists evaluated the videos independently. Subjects were classified as "affected," "possibly affected," or "not affected." A diagnosis was defined if all the neurologists agreed on the definition. Eight definitely affected and four possibly affected subjects were detected. Clinical presentation consisted of mild cranio-cervical-brachial dystonia. Mean age at onset was 45.5 years (range, 39-56). Mean BFMDRS motor score was 4.4 (range, 1-8). Mean TWSTRS score (part I) was 11.3 (range, 8-23). Mutations in DYT1 gene and in the epsilon-sarcoglycan (SGCE) genes were not detected. We could not find linkage to the dominant DYT6, DYT7, DYT13, or the recessive DYT16 loci. The identification and accurate clinical evaluation of large dystonia families not linked to known genes is crucial for further advancement in molecular genetic characterization of focal dystonia.

Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry, 2017

Depression and anxiety frequently accompany the motor manifestations of isolated adult-onset focal dystonias. Whether the body region affected when this type of dystonia first presents is associated with the severity of these neuropsychiatric symptoms is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether depression, anxiety and social anxiety vary by dystonia onset site and evaluate whether pain and dystonia severity account for any differences. Patients with isolated focal dystonia evaluated within 5 years from symptom onset, enrolled in the Natural History Project of the Dystonia Coalition, were included in the analysis. Individual onset sites were grouped into five body regions: cervical, laryngeal, limb, lower cranial and upper cranial. Neuropsychiatric symptoms were rated using the Beck Depression Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. Pain was estimated using the 36-Item Short Form Survey. Four hundred and seventy-eight subjec...

European Journal of Neurology, 2006

To review the literature on primary dystonia and dystonia plus and to provide evidence‐based recommendations. Primary dystonia and dystonia plus are chronic and often disabling conditions with a widespread spectrum mainly in young people. Computerized MEDLINE and EMBASE literature reviews (1966–1967 February 2005) were conducted. The Cochrane Library was searched for relevant citations. Diagnosis and classification of dystonia are highly relevant for providing appropriate management and prognostic information, and genetic counselling. Expert observation is suggested. DYT‐1 gene testing in conjunction with genetic counselling is recommended for patients with primary dystonia with onset before age 30 years and in those with an affected relative with early onset. Positive genetic testing for dystonia (e.g. DYT‐1) is not sufficient to make diagnosis of dystonia. Individuals with myoclonus should be tested for the epsilon‐sarcoglycan gene (DYT‐11). A levodopa trial is warranted in every ...

The clinical evaluation of a patient with dystonia is a stepwise process, beginning with classification of the phenomenology of the movement disorder(s), then formulation of the dystonia syndrome, which in turn leads to a targeted etiological differential diagnosis. In recent years there have been significant advances in our understanding of the etiological basis of dystonia, aided especially by discoveries in imaging and genetics. In this article, we provide an update on the assessment of a patient with dystonia, including the phenomenology of dystonia and highlighting how to integrate clinical, imaging, blood and neurophysiological investigations in order to formulate a dystonia syndrome. Evolving or emerging dystonia syndromes are reviewed and potential etiologies of these as well as established dystonia syndromes listed in order to guide diagnostic testing.

Journal of Neurology, 2012

We recently demonstrated that familial and sporadic blepharospasms share several phenotypic features (including age of dystonia onset, sex, and tendency to spread) believed to reflect the etiology of a blepharospasm. To investigate whether familial and sporadic forms of primary adult-onset dystonia other than the blepharospasm also share phenotypic features, we studied the families of 98 probands with primary adult-onset dystonia other than blepharospasms using a validated two-step procedure (questionnaire and clinical examination) that yields 95 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity when used to identify dystonia among relatives. The 98 probands provided a population of 402 living first-degree relatives aged 20 years or more, 336 of whom (83 %, 111 parents, 152 siblings, and 73 children) were screened for dystonia. The screening procedure identified 26 affected relatives (five parents, 16 siblings, and five children; 11 men/15 women; age at dystonia onset, 51 ± 11.7 years) from 24/98 families (25 %). No causes of secondary dystonia were found in the relatives who suffered from various forms of dystonia. When familial and sporadic patients were compared, no significant differences emerged in age, education, family size, sex distribution, age at dystonia onset, or tendency to spread. The phenotypic overlap we observed between the study groups suggests that familial and sporadic patients with primary adult-onset dystonia other than blepharospasm probably share a common etiological background.

Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 1999

Dystonia may be primary or symptomatic. Most, if not all, primary torsion dystonias are genetic diseases and manifest as 'pure dystonia', without consistent biochemical or neuropathological changes. Symptomatic dystoNas may be (a) secondary to drugs or other environmental factors, (b) part of a 'dystonia plus' syndrome or (c) part of several heredodegenerative diseases. In the last few years, there have been rapid advances in the genetic classification of primary torsion dystonia. The gene for one form (DYTldystonia), particularly common in Ashkenazi Jews, has been isolated. In this review, I present a basic clinical overview of dystonia and focus on the recent advances in molecular genetics of primary torsion dystonia (PTD). Treatment of dystonia is a large subject, worthy of a review in itself, and is not covered here. Several of the paroxysmal movement disorders may manifest with dystonia, but these are usually considered separately, as I have done in this review.