NATURAL COURSE OF IDIOPATHIC TORSION DYSTONIA AMONG JEWS

The natural history of 51 idiopathic torsion dystonia cases identified in a nationwide survey in Israel was studied. In order to take advant age of all data regarding the evolution of the disease, independently of the length of follow-up, we have used a life table method of analys is. An estimate of the mean degree of generalization of the disease at different times from onset was calculated and a curve of the estimate d temporal evolution was drawn. This analysis confirmed the heterogene ity of the disease course. The most rapid deterioration occurred in pa tients with juvenile onset in the lower limbs, particularly in the fir st 2 years following the onset. The rate of evolution was not influenc ed by gender or familiality. The course of the disease seemed more del eterious in non-Ashken-azic Jews. The present statistical method of es timating the evolution in different patient groups should be useful es pecially for the evaluation of therapeutic interventions.