Biomedical subjects

P M FitzGerald

Publications and source records attributed to P M FitzGerald.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1991

Orthostatic tremor: an association with essential tremor.

Orthostatic tremor is characterized by tremor of the trunk and legs while standing. Rapid frequency has been emphasized as an important criterion for the diagnosis of this tremor. We observed five patients who had the typical findings of orthostatic tremor but had a wide range of frequencies. All five also had postural hand tremor and a family history of essential tremor, suggesting a relationship between orthostatic tremor and essential tremor. This report also emphasizes the association of orthostatic tremor with painful cramps and a relatively consistent improvement with clonazepam.

Aged↗

PubMed1990

Rett syndrome and associated movement disorders.

Rett syndrome, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder described only in female subjects, is manifested by a wide spectrum of behavioral and motor abnormalities. We studied 32 patients with this disorder, ages 30 months to 28 years old, and characterized their extrapyramidal disturbance. The most common motor abnormalities were stereotyped movements and gait disturbance, seen in all patients. Bruxism, oculogyric crises, parkinsonism, and dystonia were also common, but myoclonus and choreoathetosis were seen only infrequently. The hyperkinetic movement disorders tended to dominate in younger patients, while bradykinetic disorders were more evident in the older patients. This study provides evidence that movement disorders seen in Rett syndrome reflect age-related neurodegenerative changes in the basal ganglia.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Extrapyramidal involvement in Rett's syndrome.

Extrapyramidal dysfunction is poorly characterized in Rett's syndrome, a neurodegenerative disorder in girls. We studied the motor and behavioral findings in 32 Rett's syndrome patients, 21 months to 30 years old. In addition to the typical stereotyped movements and scoliosis, other motor disturbances included bruxism, sialorrhea, ocular deviations, parkinsonian findings, dystonia, myoclonus, and athetosis. The types of movement disorders seemed to be age-related, with the hyperkinetic disorders occurring in the younger patients and the bradykinetic disorders occurring more frequently in the older patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

Lower body parkinsonism: evidence for vascular etiology.

We studied 10 patients with marked gait difficulty and no or only minimal upper limb involvement, defined here as lower body parkinsonism (LBP). They were compared to a control group of 100 patients with otherwise typical Parkinson's disease (PD). Both groups were of comparable age, but the mean duration of symptoms was significantly shorter in the LBP group (2.6 +/- 1.5 years versus 7.5 +/- 4.9 years). Gait disturbance was the initial symptom in 90% of LBP patients, as opposed to 7% of controls. Hypertension was present in 70% of LBP patients, and only 22% responded to levodopa. In contrast, only 21% of controls had a history of hypertension, and 96% improved with levodopa. We conclude that these 10 LBP patients constitute a homogenous group, distinct from typical PD. Besides their disproportionate gait disturbance, they are distinguished from PD patients by more rapid progression, higher incidence of hypertension, and a poor response to levodopa. Ischemic etiology for LBP is supported by abnormal neuroimaging studies.

Aged↗

PubMed1989

Tardive oculogyric crises.

Involuntary ocular deviations, or oculogyric crises (OGC), commonly occur in acute dystonic reactions to dopamine receptor blocking drugs (neuroleptics). We describe 4 patients with tardive OGC due to prolonged exposure to neuroleptics. In addition to the OGC, the patients had other tardive movement disorders. All patients improved with tetrabenazine. We conclude that tardive OGC are often not recognized and represent part of the spectrum of tardive dystonia.

Aged↗

PubMed1983

Primary sarcoma of the pulmonary trunk: CT findings.

A case of primary leiomyosarcoma of the pulmonary trunk is described. Following bolus injection of contrast medium, computed tomography was useful in demonstrating metastatic deposits, pulmonary oligaemia, and also the primary tumour itself. Comparison with conventional radiology is made.

Adult↗