Essential tremor-plus: a controversial new concept
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2020 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Lancet Neurology |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(19)30398-9 |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(19)30398-9 |
| Keywords | CONSENSUS STATEMENT; HEAD TREMOR; DISORDER; DYSTONIA; PREVALENCE; DEMENTIA; NETWORK; DECLINE; DISEASE |
| Description | In addition to redefining essential tremor (ET), the 2018 consensus statement of the Movement Disorder Society on tremor coined a new term: essential tremor-plus (ET-plus). This term is uncertainly defined as tremor with the characteristics of ET, with additional neurological signs of uncertain clinical significance. If ET-plus had been defined on the basis of a difference in underlying pathology or an appreciable difference in prognosis, it would have a valid, scientific rationale, as does the term Parkinson-plus. However, there is no such evidence, so the basis for the term is questionable. In fact, ET-plus might only represent a state condition (ie, patients with ET might develop these additional clinical features when the disease is at a more advanced stage). We caution against coining new terms that are not supported by a firm scientific basis and encourage research into the creation of essential tremor subsets that are defined with respect to differences in underlying causes or pathophysiology. |