Do the same genes predispose to Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome and dystonia? Report of a new family and review of the literature

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (TS) and idiopathic focal torsion dystonia a re both movement disorders in which the pathologic process is thought to ar ise within the basal ganglia. However, despite their possible functional li nks, they are clinically distinct and are generally considered to have diff erent underlying etiologies. There are several reports in the literature th at suggest a relationship between eye winking ties, excessive blinking, and blepharospasm and a report of the coexistence of ties and dystonia. We des cribe a three-generation family in which TS and dystonias cosegregate. In t otal, eight patients were affected, five with dystonia and three with TS/fa cial ties. One of the patients with historic evidence of dystonia subsequen tly died of motor neuron disease. The identification of this family further strengthens the evidence in favor of an etiologic relationship between som e cases of Gilles de la Tourette syndrome and focal dystonia.