• Blepharospasm (BSP) is a common form of primary torsion dystonia (PTD). (nih.gov)
  • DYT13, a novel primary torsion dystonia locus, maps to chromosome 1p36.13--36.32 in an Italian family with cranial-cervical or upper limb onset. (nih.gov)
  • Atypical phenotypes and clinical variability in a large Italian family with DYT1-primary torsion dystonia. (nih.gov)
  • Torsion dystonia, also known as dystonia musculorum deformans, is a disease characterized by painful muscle contractions resulting in uncontrollable distortions. (wikipedia.org)
  • There are several types of torsion dystonia that affect different areas of the body. (wikipedia.org)
  • However, it is unknown if the gene that causes Early-onset torsion dystonia is responsible for the other dystonias as well. (wikipedia.org)
  • Early-onset torsion dystonia: The most severe type of dystonia, it begins in an arm or leg and progresses to the rest of the body until the person - in most cases, a child - is reliant on a wheelchair. (wikipedia.org)
  • There is no cure for torsion dystonia. (wikipedia.org)
  • A fourth option in the treatment for the symptoms of torsion dystonia is surgery. (wikipedia.org)
  • Other techniques include transection of the spinal accessory nerve for cervical dystonia, stereotactic thalamotomy or pallidotomy for generalized dystonia, and deep brain stimulation (DBS). (medscape.com)
  • Cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis): A type of dystonia that affects the head, neck and spine. (wikipedia.org)
  • Botulinum toxin injections improve focal dystonia but may worsen swallowing in individuals with preexisting dysphagia. (nih.gov)
  • Focal dystonias, such as blepharospasm or torticollis, may be treated with injected botulinum toxin, which paralyzes hypertonic muscle groups. (tabers.com)
  • This may occur in stroke or dystonia-parkinsonism syndrome and lead to painful positioning of the leg, impaired gait, and altered bone development. (medscape.com)
  • Patients with generalized dystonia often benefit from gait and mobility training, as well as from instruction in the use of assistive devices. (medscape.com)
  • Dystonia (from Greek, meaning altered muscle tone) refers to a syndrome of involuntary sustained or spasmodic muscle contractions involving co-contraction of the agonist and the antagonist. (medscape.com)
  • This specific type of dystonia is frequently found in children, with symptoms starting around the ages of 11 or 12. (wikipedia.org)
  • The complications surrounding this form of dystonia are speech related and can cause symptoms such as speech that wavers, speech that sounds like a whisper, or speech that is hesitant. (wikipedia.org)
  • those who develop a combination of parkinsonism and dystonia can develop multifocal or generalized symptoms within a few years and die prematurely from pneumonia or intercurrent infections. (nih.gov)
  • Molecular genetic testing for variants that tag a disease-associated haplotype of the multilocus transcript system termed TAF/DYT3 is required to confirm the diagnosis in those with no known family history of XDP, very early symptoms, and/or a phenotype of pure parkinsonism, pure tremor, or chorea without dystonia. (nih.gov)
  • the clinical course is highly variable with parkinsonism as the initial presenting sign, overshadowed by dystonia as the disease progresses. (nih.gov)
  • While there was no correlation found between impaired body concept and severity of dystonia, such an association did exist with regard to self-rated depression and dystonic severity. (medscape.com)
  • Individuals with X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism (XDP) have dystonia of varying severity and parkinsonism. (nih.gov)
  • The type of surgery performed is specific to the type of dystonia that the patient has[citation needed]. (wikipedia.org)
  • Upper limb dystonia causes cramping and posturing of the elbows, hands, and fingers that lead to the inability to perform certain occupational tasks. (medscape.com)
  • Writer's cramp (occupational dystonia): A dystonia that affects the muscles of the hand and forearm. (wikipedia.org)
  • The frequent abnormal posturing and twisting can be painful, and the functional impact of dystonia can vary from barely noticeable to severely disabling. (medscape.com)
  • Surgical options for intractable dystonias include altering the location or length of problematic muscles, but this is rarely successful. (medscape.com)
  • Psychological counseling and participation in support groups are vital adjuncts to medical and physical approaches in the multidisciplinary management of dystonia. (medscape.com)
  • Because of the risk of significant comorbidity, surgical approaches are reserved for patients with disabling dystonia in whom other treatment modalities have been exhausted. (medscape.com)
  • Bilateral pallidal deep brain stimulation may be used to treat advanced disease and medically refractory dystonia, although it may have less effect on parkinsonism. (nih.gov)
  • Drugs used to treat psychosis, Parkinson disease, strokes, brain tumors, toxic levels of manganese or carbon dioxide, and viral encephalitis may produce dystonia. (tabers.com)
  • Consequently, dystonias can have a profound effect on the personal, vocational, and emotional life of a patient and can impact his/her ability to live independently. (medscape.com)
  • Offending drugs are withdrawn, and the patient may be treated with diphenhydramine, or, in the case of dystonias caused by neuroleptic drugs, benztropine. (tabers.com)
  • A study by Paracka et al indicated that patients with dystonia have an impaired body concept, particularly with regard to general health, body care, physical efficacy, sexuality, and physical appearance. (medscape.com)
  • Pharmacologic agents are used to treat dystonia or parkinsonism or both. (nih.gov)