Abstract
Background
Most of the literature on pathology of essential tremor (ET) has reported no consistent
abnormalities. Some recent studies however indicate that cerebellar Purkinje cell
(PC) loss is the pathological basis of ET in most patients.
Objective
To compare cerebellar PC loss in ET, with normal and tremor dominant Parkinson’s disease
[PD] control brains.
Methods
Cerebellar PC counts were performed in seven ET, six PD and two normal control brains.
Three different counting methods – sectioned through nucleolus, through nucleus and
through any part of PC body, were used to count the PC.
Results
There were individual differences in the PC counts both in the ET and the PD cases.
In all three subgroups, there was a reduction in the number of PC with advancing age.
When the individuals of comparable age in the three subgroups were considered, there
was no clear distinction between ET, PD and normal control subjects. There was no
association between the degree of PC loss and the severity or the duration of ET.
Conclusion
Our study militates against the hypothesis that PC loss is pathognomonic of ET.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
August 9,
2010
Received in revised form:
August 5,
2010
Received:
June 3,
2010
Footnotes
☆The review of this paper was entirely handled by the Co-Editor-in-Cheif. Prof. R.F. Pfeiffer.
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
