Issue One 2018
2018, Vol. 5 issue 1, (January)
Original Article
Frequency of previous head trauma and surgery with general anesthesia in parkinson’s disease and essential tremor
Abstract:
Introduction
The possible role of head trauma as pathogenic factor in Parkinson`s disease (PD) was first noted by J. Parkinson in his essay in 1817. General anesthesia has also been discussed and considered to be a risk factor for PD. Their role in the etiopathogenesis of essential tremor (ET), the most common movement disorder, has not been studied extensively.
Aim
To assess the frequency of head trauma history and previous surgery with general anesthesia in a clinical setting of PD vs. ET patients.
Material and methods
We analyzed the medical records of 366 PD patients and 613 ET patients, hospitalized during an 8-year period in the First clinic of Neurology, Sveta Marina University Hospital, Varna, Bulgaria.
Results
Twenty (5.46%) PD and 36 (5.87%) ET patients had suffered head trauma with concussion or more severe brain damage prior to their initial movement disorders symptoms. Seventy-four (20.22%) PD and 142 (23.16%) ET patients had undergone 1 or more surgical interventions with general anesthesia prior to their first symptoms. Frequencies of head trauma and general anesthesia did not differ statistically between groups.
Conclusion
Some authors support the hypothesis for association of head injury and general anesthesia with increased risk of developing PD. Our results of similar frequency of head trauma and slightly larger of general anesthesia in the ET group support further research of their potential causal or triggering role in the pathogenesis of ET.
Authors:
Borislav Ivanov; Department of Clinical Medical Sciences, Medical University, Varna, Bulgaria;Stefan Peev; Department of Periodontology and Dental Implantology, Medical University Varna, Bulgaria;
Ivan Dimitrov; Department of Nursing, Sliven Affiliate, Medical University Varna, Bulgaria;
Ara Kaprelyan; Department of Neurology and Neurosciences, Medical University Varna, Bulgaria;
Кalina Drenska; Department of Neurology and Neurosciences, Medical University Varna, Bulgaria;
Vesselina Nestorova; Department of Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation, Thalassotherapy and Occupational Diseases, Medical University Varna, Bulgaria;
Margarita Grudkova; Department of Neurology and Neurosciences, Medical University Varna, Bulgaria;