Two hundred consecutive patients affected by essential tremor (ET), referred to the Movement Disorders Center of the University of Bologna between January 1977 and December 1981, were studied to identify the different clinical features of this disorder, and its associated neurological signs. In this series, 169 patients suffered from typical essential tremor (TET); in the other 31 cases uncommon clinical features were detected: 25 presented postural, action and rest tremor (continuous tremor: CT); 5 had orthostatic tremor (OT) and 1 was affected by writing tremor (WT). Buccolinguofacial dyskinesias (BLFD) were associated with ET in 19 cases; 2 presented dystonia, and in 6 mild extrapyramidal signs were detected. Uncommon types of tremor: ET plus BLFD and ET associated with extrapyramidal signs had an higher incidence in older people. No patient developed Parkinson's disease (PD) during the follow-up period (2-5 years).

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We studied clinically and electrophysiologically 8 patients affected by ortho‐static tremor (OT), which is an unusual movement disorder consisting of shaking movements of the legs and trunk in the standing position. We failed to find any cause in 6 of the 8 cases. In 2 patients OT was clearly secondary to neurologic disease: hydrocephalus due to non‐tumoral acqueduct stenosis and chronic relapsing polyradiculoneuropathy. The findings obtained suggest a relationship between OT and essential tremor (ET).

A case of a mediterranean boy with congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) and central nervous system (CNS) involvement with mild intellectual impairment and seizures is reported. Muscular dystrophy involved both skeletal and mimic muscles, and histological findings were consistent with a congenital dystrophy. EEG recordings showed generalized and localized paroxysmal activities. CT scan demonstrated low-density periventricular areas. Ophthalmoplegia was also observed. A literature review disclosed that in some western cases of CMD plus CNS involvement, cranial muscles other than mimic muscles may be involved.

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