Jp. Hammerstad et al., TENDON JERKS IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE, Journal of neural transmission. Parkinson's disease and dementia section, 8(1-2), 1994, pp. 123-130
Tendon reflexes were examined in 119 patients with idiopathic parkinso
nism (IF) and 40 spouse controls to estimate the type and frequency of
any alterations in the reflexes. Forty one of 119 patients and 2 of 4
0 controls had reflex ratings of 3+ at two or more sites (p < 0.001).
There was no correlation of reflex score with the severity of disease
or with the cardinal signs of IF. In 21 patients with asymmetric tendo
n jerks the side with the more active reflexes correlated with the sid
e with greater parkinsonian signs. We conclude that an increase in ten
don jerks is a feature of IF. The pathophysiology of this change in re
flexes should be investigated further to establish if it is a heretofo
re overlooked manifestation of basal ganglia dysfunction or a link wit
h other neurodegenerative diseases.