Motor Abnormalities of the Eyelids in Parkinson's Disease

Loeffler, John D.

doi:10.1001/archopht.1966.03850010180005

Cited by 22 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 8 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This is already well known3 14 but the blink rate of only 11 of 51 patients (21%) with Parkinson’s disease was below the 95% confidence interval of normal subjects and only 18 (35%) had a blink rate below 2 Hz. Most likely this is because our patients were all treated with levodopa and dopamine agonists and dopaminergic medication can increase the blink rate 13…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

“…12 The cerebellum seems to inhibit blinking2 7 because the removal of the cerebellum increases blink rate in rats 7. The basal ganglia play an important part in regulating the frequency of the eye blinks13 but further and more complex aspects of levator palpebrae and orbicularis oculi interaction such as their mutual reciprocal inhibition and especially the levator palpebrae inhibition8 14 are under control of basal ganglia circuits.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Spontaneous and reflex activity of facial muscles in dystonia, Parkinson's disease, and in normal subjects

Deuschl

Goddemeier²

1998

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry

116

103

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective-The blink rate is an index which can be easily obtained during the clinical examination, but it has not yet been properly standardised. The present study was undertaken to collect data on the age dependent development of this index and on possible abnormalities in Parkinson's disease and dystonia. Methods-The blink rate and the rate of perioral movements were measured in 156 normal controls, 51 patients with Parkinson's disease, 48 patients with spasmodic torticollis, 14 patients with generalised dystonia, and 12 patients with focal hand or leg dystonias and have been correlated with the results of testing the orbicularis oculi reflex, the palmomental reflex, and the perioral reflex. Results-No age related eVects were found for the blink rate and perioral movements but all the reflexes showed age dependent variations. It is suYcient to measure the blink rate for one minute, provided standardised conditions are applied. Blink rate and perioral movement rate were positively correlated in patients and controls. The blink rate was significantly increased in spasmodic torticollis and decreased in Parkinson's disease. In generalised dystonia the blink rate was increased but in hand and leg dystonia the blink rate was normal. The reflex tests did not significantly diVer between the subject groups except for the orbicularis oculi reflex, which was hyperexitable in Parkinson's disease. Conclusion-Measuring the blink rate can assist the diagnosis of extrapyramidal disorders as a soft sign, but is not very sensitive. The group diVerences found indicate a decrease of the blink rate and perioral movements in hypokinetic and an increase in hyperkinetic extrapyramidal disorders such as spasmodic torticollis and generalised dystonias. This may be of interest for future pathophysiological studies. (J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1998;64:320-324)

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Spontaneous and reflex activity of facial muscles in dystonia, Parkinson's disease, and in normal subjects

Deuschl

Goddemeier²

1998

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry

116

103

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Since Loeffler et al (1966) demonstrated that the levator in normal patients has little or no electrical activity in downgaze, it might be inferred that its motor nerve is electrically silent. By definition, the concept of in vivo post-tetanic facilitation requires that the muscle be stimulated by a neural impulse.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transient eyelid retraction in myasthenia gravis.

Puklin¹,

Sacks²,

Boshes³

1976

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SYNOPSIS Three patients with myasthenia gravis had transient retraction of the upper eyelids which usually followed prolonged upgaze and which persisted for many seconds. This could result from post-tetanic facilitation, myotonia, or a transient contracture. Retraction of this type is to be distinguished from both the long-standing unilateral retraction associated with ptosis of the contralateral eyelid and the fleeting lid twitch sign.

show abstract

“…Amplification was obtained with equipment that is standard for ocular electromyography (Loeffler, Slatt, and Hoyt, 1966).…”

Section: Case Reportmentioning

confidence: 99%