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Laryngeal electromyography as a diagnostic tool for Parkinson's disease
Author(s) -
Zarzur Ana P.,
Campos Duprat André,
Cataldo Berenice O.,
Ciampi Daniel,
Fonoff Erich
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.24379
Subject(s) - electromyography , medicine , parkinson's disease , laryngeal diseases , physical medicine and rehabilitation , physical therapy , disease , larynx , surgery
Objectives/Hypothesis To study the laryngeal electromyography pattern in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and vocal complaints at different stages of the disease. Study Design Cross‐sectional cohort study. Methods Ninety‐four adults with PD and vocal complaints at different stages of the disease (according to the Hoehn and Yahr scale) underwent laryngeal electromyography. Results Tremors were not detected on laryngeal electromyography of the cricothyroid and thyroarytenoid muscles even in patients with clinical tremor. Laryngeal electromyography hypercontractility during voice rest was the typical result observed in 91.5% of patients regardless of disease severity. Gender and age of subjects did not correlate with laryngeal electromyography results. Patients with PD presented spontaneous intrinsic laryngeal muscle activity during voice rest, regardless of disease severity. Conclusions This study was significant because it reported on the use of laryngeal electromyography in a large number of patients with PD and vocal complaints grouped according to PD severity. The patterns observed suggest that laryngeal electromyography is a valuable diagnostic tool for PD even at early phases of the disease. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope , 124:725–729, 2014