Parkinson's Disease in Patients with Essential Tremor: A Prospective Clinical and Functional Neuroimaging Assessment

Introduction: Patients with essential tremor (ET) have 3.5 times greater risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD) throughout their lives, also known as PD antecedent ET (ET-PD). Single photon emission computed tomography radiotracer imaging dopamine transporters (TRODAT-SPECT) can help differentiate these two diseases. Method: Relate the results TRODAT-SPECT in patients to potential progress ET-PD. Thirty-six were evaluated by neurological examination, Archimedes spiral, and MDS-UPDRS III scale on occasions, after a mean interval three years. SPECT was performed all first visit. Results: Overall, six (16.6%) progressed clinically ET-PD older, age onset later. The group scored higher scale, especially for presence bradykinesia. altered 83.3% compared 33% (p=0.034). Changes asymmetrical hypouptake suggested (p=0.025). Conclusion: Advanced at tremor, bradykinesia, alterations may be related progression ET. neuroimaging suggest that SPECT-TRODAT used predict selected patients.