Increased blink rate in advanced Parkinson's disease: A form of ‘off’-period dystonia?

✍ Scribed by T. E. Kimber; P. D. Thompson

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 50 KB
• Volume: 15
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-3185
• DOI: 10.1002/1531-8257(200009)15:5<982::aid-mds1033>3.0.co;2-p

✦ Synopsis

Blink rates were measured in 25 patients with fluctuating Parkinson's disease in the "off' and "on" periods. In 17 patients, the "off"-period blink rate was low and increased after administration of levodopa. In the remaining eight patients, the "off"-period blink rate was high and returned to normal levels after levodopa. It is suggested that increased blink rate in the latter group represents a new form of "off"-period dystonia.