Journal of the Neurological Sciences
Volume 291, Issue 1 , Pages 1-4, 15 April 2010

Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and off-phase motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease

  • Saša R. Filipović

      Affiliations

    • Burden Neurological Institute, Bristol, UK
    • University of Belgrade, Institute for Medical Research, Belgrade, Serbia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Laboratory for Experimental Clinical Neurophysiology, Institute for Medical Research, ul. Dr Subotica 4 PO Box 102, 11129 Beograd, Serbia. Tel.: +381 11 2684484; fax: +381 11 2643691.
    • ,
  • John C. Rothwell

      Affiliations

    • University College London, Institute of Neurology, London, UK
    • ,
  • Kailash Bhatia

      Affiliations

    • University College London, Institute of Neurology, London, UK

Received 7 December 2009; received in revised form 14 January 2010; accepted 21 January 2010. published online 15 February 2010.

Abstract 

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can modulate cortical excitability and activation and consequently may affect clinical symptoms in neurological conditions characterized by altered motor cortex functions. There are conflicting reports whether low-frequency rTMS has any clinical effects in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Ten patients with PD had rTMS (1800 stimuli at just below active motor threshold intensity) at 1Hz rate delivered over the motor cortex for four consecutive days on two separate occasions. On one of these real rTMS was used and on the other sham rTMS (placebo) was used. Evaluations with UPDRS Part 3 (Motor Scale) were done in practically defined off-phase at the baseline and one day after the end of each of the treatment series. Neither total Motor Scale scores nor subscores for axial symptoms, rigidity, bradykinesia, and tremor showed any significant difference.

The results do not confirm presence of residual beneficial clinical after-effects of consecutive daily applications of low-frequency rTMS on motor symptoms in PD, at least when 1800 stimuli at subthreshold intensity are applied for four days.

Keywords: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, rTMS, Parkinson's disease, Placebo, Motor symptoms

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PII: S0022-510X(10)00044-4

doi:10.1016/j.jns.2010.01.017

Journal of the Neurological Sciences
Volume 291, Issue 1 , Pages 1-4, 15 April 2010

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