Tremor in multiple sclerosis: The intriguing role of the cerebellum.

Authors:

Ayache SS; Chalah MA; Al-Ani T; Farhat WH; Zouari HG; Creang e A; Lefaucheur JP. Institution Ayache,Samar S. Faculte de Medecine de Creteil, Universite Paris Est Creteil, EA 4391, Creteil, France; Hopital Henri-Mondor, AP- HP, Service de Physiologie, Explorations Fonctionnelles, Creteil, France. Elect ronic address: samarayache@gmail.com. Chalah,Moussa A. Faculte de Medecine de Creteil, Universite Paris Es t Creteil, EA 4391, Creteil, France; Hopital Henri-Mondor, AP- HP, Service de Physiologie, Explorations Fonctionnelles, Creteil, France. Al -Ani,Tarik. Faculte de Medecine de Creteil, Universite Paris Est Creteil, EA 4391, Creteil, France; Universite de Versailles Saint-Quentin- en -Yvelines, Laboratoired’IngenieriedesSystemes de Versailles, Velizy, France; EcoleSuperieured’Ingenieurs en Elect ronique et Electrotechnique de Paris, DepartementInformatique et Telecommunication, Noisy-Le-Grand, France. Far hat,Wassim H. Faculte de Medecine de Creteil, Universite Paris Est Creteil, EA 4391, Creteil, France; Hopital Henri-Mondor, AP- HP, Service de Physiologie, Explorations Fonctionnelles, Creteil, France. Zouari,Hela G. Faculte de Medecine de Creteil, Universite Paris Es t Creteil, EA 4391, Creteil, France; Hopital Henri-Mondor, AP- HP, Service de Physiologie, Explorations Fonctionnelles, Creteil, France. Creange,Alain. Faculte de Medecine de Creteil, Universite Paris Est Creteil, EA 4391, Creteil, France; Hopital Henri-Mondor, AP- HP, Service de Neurologie, Creteil, France. Lefaucheur,Jean-Pascal. Faculte de Medecine de Creteil, Universite Paris Est Creteil, EA 4391, Creteil, France; Hopital Henri-Mondor , AP-HP, Service de Physiologie, Explorations Fonctionnelles, Creteil, France.

Title:

Tremor in multiple sclerosis: The intriguing role of the cerebellum.

Source:

Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 358(1-2):351-6, 2015 Nov 15.

Abstract:

Tremor is frequently encountered in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. However, its underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Our aim was to assess the potential role of the cerebellum and brain stem structures in the generation of MS tremor.We performed accelerometric (ACC) and electromyographic(EMG) assessment of tremor in 32MS patients with manual clumsiness. In addition to clinic al examination, patients underwent a neurophysiological exploration of the brainstem and cerebellar functions,which consisted of blink and masseter inhibitory reflexes, cerebello-thalamo-cortical inhibition (CTCi), and somatosensory evoked potentials. Tremor was clinically visible in 18 pat ients and absent in 14. Patients with visible tremor had more severe score of ataxia and clinical signs of cerebellar dysfunction, as well as a more reduced CTCi on neurophysiological investigation. However, ACC and EMG recordings confirmed the presence of a real rhythmic activity in only one p atient. In most MS patients, the clinically visible tremor corresponded to a pseudorhythmic activity without coupling between ACC and EM G recordings. Cerebellar dysfunction may contribute to the occurrence of this pseudorhythmic activity mimicking tremor during posture and movement execution.

Publication Type:

Journal Article.