• Cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis): A type of dystonia that affects the head, neck and spine. (wikipedia.org)
  • 2) Methods: Here, we reviewed the current study literature to answer a specific question regarding the efficacy and safety of the use of DBS, particularly for cervical dystonia (CD) and Meige syndrome (MS) in patients with documented treatment failure under BoNT. (bvsalud.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)
  • Clinical features, differential diagnosis, and pathogenesis of blepharospasm and cranial-cervical dystonia. (medscape.com)
  • ABSTRACT Purpose: Information is scarce regarding the comprehensive profile of patients with essential blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm in Brazil. (bvsalud.org)
  • Methods: The study included patients with essential blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm, followed up at the Departments of Ophthalmology at Universidade Federal de São Paulo and Universidade de São Paulo. (bvsalud.org)
  • A novel mechanism for benign essential blepharospasm. (medscape.com)
  • Decreased dopamine D(2) receptor binding in essential blepharospasm. (medscape.com)
  • Hall TA, McGwin G, Searcey K. Health-related quality of life and psychosocial characteristics of patients with benign essential blepharospasm. (medscape.com)
  • Hall TA, McGwin G, Searcey K. Benign essential blepharospasm: risk factors with reference to hemifacial spasm. (medscape.com)
  • At one end of the clinical spectrum, essential blepharospasm is manifested by simple increased blink rate and intermittent eyelid spasms, while at the other end of the spectrum, blepharospasm is a disabling condition with ocular pain and functional blindness. (medscape.com)
  • Botulinum toxin A is a safe, long-term treatment for patients with benign essential blepharospasm, but sustained treatment efficacy may require higher doses in later stages of the disease. (medscape.com)
  • Dystonias are sustained involuntary muscle contractions of antagonistic muscle groups in the same body part, leading to sustained abnormal posturing or jerky, twisting, intermittent spasms that can resemble tremors, athetosis, or choreoathetosis. (msdmanuals.com)
  • Blepharospasm causes involuntary muscle contractions in the eyelid and brow muscles. (dystoniacanada.org)
  • Dystonia is a disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that cause slow repetitive movements or abnormal postures. (medlink.com)
  • 1) Background: The first-line treatment for patients with focal or segmental dystonia with a craniocervical distribution is still the intramuscular injection of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT). (bvsalud.org)
  • Dystonias can be primary or secondary and can be generalized, focal, or segmental. (msdmanuals.com)
  • Botulinum toxin injections are used to treat focal or segmental dystonias. (msdmanuals.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)
  • spasmodic torticollis)-involuntary contractions of the neck muscles-is the most common dystonia. (msdmanuals.com)
  • Treats excessive, abnormal contractions associated with blepharospasm. (medscape.com)
  • The muscle contractions are more rapid and transient than those of blepharospasm, and the condition is always confined to one side. (dystoniacanada.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)
  • Dystonia can affect many different parts of the body, and the symptoms are different depending upon the form of dystonia. (medlink.com)
  • 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)
  • Dystonia can occur at any age, but is often described as either early, or childhood, onset versus adult onset. (medlink.com)
  • Early-onset dystonia often begins with symptoms in the limbs and may progress to involve other regions. (medlink.com)
  • Adult-onset dystonia usually is located in one or adjacent parts of the body, most often involving the neck and/or facial muscles. (medlink.com)
  • The mean age of onset of blepharospasm is 56 years, and two thirds of patients are age 60 years or older. (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 diagnosis of blepharospasm relies on the ability of a qualified healthcare professional to recognize the symptoms and rule out other possibilities. (dystoniacanada.org)
  • Symptoms of blepharospasm may begin with increased blinking, light sensitivity, a sensation of eye irritation or dry eyes, or a foreign body sensation. (dystoniacanada.org)
  • It is important to note the symptoms may vary widely in type and severity even among members of the same family. (medlink.com)
  • In this post, I will follow up on a related patient experience about social discomfort and Dystonia and another on depression and Dystonia by sharing some tips to manage your Dystonia related anxiety, stress, and symptoms in social situations. (dystoniarecoveryprogram.com)
  • Little progress was made in the diagnosis or treatment of blepharospasm until the early 20th century, when Henry Meige (pronounced "mehzh"), a French neurologist, described a patient with eyelid and midface spasms, spasm facial median, a disorder now known as Meige syndrome. (medscape.com)
  • Morrison DA, Mellington FB, Hamada S. Schwartz-Jampel syndrome: surgical management of the myotonia-induced blepharospasm and acquired ptosis after failure with botulinum toxin A injections. (medscape.com)
  • The most effective treatment for blepharospasm is regular botulinum neurotoxin injections to the affected muscles. (dystoniacanada.org)
  • Botulinum neurotoxin injections for blepharospasm typically include multiple injection sites applied around the eyes and brows. (dystoniacanada.org)
  • Botulinum toxin and myectomy help to control blepharospasm but may not cure it. (medscape.com)
  • 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)
  • This circuit forms a blepharospasm vicious cycle, which has a sensory limb, a central control center located in the midbrain, and a motor limb. (medscape.com)
  • The type of doctor that is typically trained to diagnose and treat blepharospasm and other dystonias is a neurologist with special training in movement disorders, often called a movement disorder specialist. (dystoniacanada.org)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • Patients with generalized dystonia often benefit from gait and mobility training, as well as from instruction in the use of assistive devices. (medscape.com)
  • Jankovic J, Orman J. Blepharospasm: demographic and clinical survey of 250 patients. (medscape.com)
  • Bentivoglio AR, Daniele A, Albanese A. Analysis of blink rate in patients with blepharospasm. (medscape.com)
  • [ 11 , 12 ] Fayers et al have found a decrease in corneal sensitivity in patients with blepharospasm, implying an impairment in cortical processing of sensory input, with a resultant loss of blink reflex inhibition. (medscape.com)
  • Join the complete online recovery program for dystonia patients. (dystoniarecoveryprogram.com)
  • Experts believe dystonia results from excessive signals arising from the brain that cause muscles to contract inappropriately. (dystoniacanada.org)
  • Treatment of severe generalized dystonia may require a combination of oral anticholinergic drugs, muscle relaxants, and benzodiazepines. (msdmanuals.com)
  • Severe segmental or generalized dystonia that is refractory to treatment may require surgery. (msdmanuals.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)
  • In some cases, dystonia can affect only one specific action, while allowing others to occur unimpeded. (medlink.com)
  • Surgical options for intractable dystonias include altering the location or length of problematic muscles, but this is rarely successful. (medscape.com)
  • There are several different forms of dystonia that may affect only one muscle, groups of muscles, or muscles throughout the body. (medlink.com)
  • A dystonia is a movement disorder that causes the muscles to contract and spasm involuntarily. (medscape.com)
  • Dystonia can be a symptom of other diseases, some of which may be hereditary. (medlink.com)
  • The movements may be painful, and some individuals with dystonia may have a tremor or other neurologic features. (medlink.com)
  • 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)
  • The main concern for this dystonia is that it can cause the eyelids to close involuntarily and for indefinite periods of time. (wikipedia.org)
  • or the group of syndromes to which autistic disorder belongs - the autism spectrum disorders . (wikipedia.org)
  • Blepharospasm may result from drug exposure, brain injury, or disorders such as parkinsonian syndromes and Wilson's disease. (dystoniacanada.org)
  • Some causes of acquired dystonia include birth injury (including hypoxia, a lack of oxygen to the brain, and neonatal brain hemorrhage), certain infections, reactions to certain drugs, heavy metal or carbon monoxide poisoning, trauma, or stroke. (medlink.com)
  • Blepharospasm almost always affects both eyes, but may begin in one eye. (dystoniacanada.org)
  • Generalized dystonia may be inherited or secondary to another disorder or drug. (msdmanuals.com)
  • Acquired dystonia, also called secondary dystonia, results from environmental or other damage to the brain, or from exposure to certain types of medications. (medlink.com)
  • Dystonia typically is not associated with problems thinking or understanding, but depression and anxiety may be present. (medlink.com)
  • In some instances, persons who inherit the defective gene may not develop dystonia. (medlink.com)
  • If the central control center fails to regulate blinking in blepharospasm, it is believed to be only one component of an overloaded, defective circuit. (medscape.com)
  • 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)
  • Dystonia that occurs as a result of medications often ceases if the medications are stopped quickly. (medlink.com)
  • Having one mutated gene appears to be sufficient to cause the chemical imbalances that may lead to dystonia, but other genetic or even environmental factors may play a role. (medlink.com)
  • Researchers believe that dystonia results from an abnormality in or damage to the basal ganglia or other brain regions that control movement. (medlink.com)
  • Psychological counseling and participation in support groups are vital adjuncts to medical and physical approaches in the multidisciplinary management of dystonia. (medscape.com)
  • Individuals are encouraged to confirm that the health care professionals they consult have specific training and experience in treating blepharospasm. (dystoniacanada.org)