Tremor in the right hand as the most common initial manifestation of Parkinson disease

Parkinson Disease (PD) is a common cause of disability in the aged. PD patients need life long drug therapy and rehabilitation. This study was to evaluate the initial manifestations of PD. In this case-series study, 100 consecutive elderly patients with PD enrolled in a prospective case series study in Valie-e-Asr neurology clinic affiliated to Birjand University of Medical Sciences during 2002-2004. PD was confirmed by a neurologist based on the criteria developed by British Parkinson association. Age of the patients at PD onset and its first clinical manifestations were kept in a data base. The obtained data was statistically analysed applying SPSS software, chi-square and t-test, at the significant level P≤0.05. 100 PD patients were evaluated, of whom 68 were males and 32 females. Mean age of the patients at the onset of PD was 63.6±9.6 years. In 76% of our PD patients, resting tremor was the initial manifestation. Right hand, left hand, and both hands tremor were the initial manifestation in 50%, 14% and 12% of our PD patients, respectively. Hypokinesia-bradykinesia, Rigidity and dementia consisted 18%, 4% and 2% of initial PD manifestations respectively. Resting tremor in the right hand is the most common initial manifestation of PD in elderly PD patients and therefore it should be taken into account as a significant sign in the initial diagnosis of PD.