Sensory abnormalities in unaffected relatives in familial adult-onset dystonia

Neurology. 2005 Sep 27;65(6):938-40. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000176068.23983.a8.

Abstract

Somatosensory abnormalities are found in adult-onset primary torsion dystonia (PTD). Therefore we assessed spatial discrimination thresholds (SDT), a measure of spatial acuity, in four multiplex families with adult-onset PTD. In family members aged 20 to 45 years vs controls (mean + 2.5 SD), abnormal SDTs were found in four of five affected with adult-onset PTD and in 12 of 49 unaffected relatives. Sensory abnormalities may be an endophenotype, possibly expressed later as adult-onset PTD.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aging / pathology
  • Aging / physiology
  • Biomarkers
  • Dystonic Disorders / diagnosis
  • Dystonic Disorders / genetics*
  • Dystonic Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Genetic Carrier Screening / methods*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Merkel Cells / pathology
  • Merkel Cells / physiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neural Inhibition / genetics
  • Neural Pathways / physiopathology
  • Pedigree
  • Perceptual Disorders / diagnosis
  • Perceptual Disorders / genetics*
  • Perceptual Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Phenotype
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Sensory Thresholds / physiology
  • Somatosensory Cortex / pathology
  • Somatosensory Cortex / physiopathology
  • Touch / physiology

Substances

  • Biomarkers