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Increased Blinking May Be a Precursor of Blepharospasm: A Longitudinal Study
Author(s) -
Conte Antonella,
Ferrazzano Gina,
Defazio Giovanni,
Fabbrini Giovanni,
Hallett Mark,
Berardelli Alfredo
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
movement disorders clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.754
H-Index - 18
ISSN - 2330-1619
DOI - 10.1002/mdc3.12499
Subject(s) - blepharospasm , orbicularis oculi muscle , corneal reflex , dystonia , reflex , longitudinal study , medicine , psychology , audiology , anesthesia , eyelid , neuroscience , surgery , pathology
Background The objective of this 5‐year longitudinal study was to investigate whether patients with increased blinking develop orbicularis oculi muscle spasms. Methods Eleven patients who initially manifested increased blinking alone were clinically and neurophysiologically re‐evaluated 5 years later. Results By the 5‐year follow‐up assessment, 9 of the 11 patients had developed orbicularis oculi muscle spasms. The blink reflex recovery cycle became abnormal, whereas somatosensory temporal discrimination, which already was abnormal at the first evaluation, did not significantly change. Conclusions Our longitudinal study demonstrates that increased blinking may precede blepharospasm and that an abnormal blink reflex recovery cycle reflects the development of orbicularis oculi muscle spasms.