Published in:
Open Access
24-05-2022 | Dystonia | Original Article
The Italian tremor Network (TITAN): rationale, design and preliminary findings
Authors:
Roberto Erro, Andrea Pilotto, Marcello Esposito, Enrica Olivola, Alessandra Nicoletti, Giulia Lazzeri, Luca Magistrelli, Carlo Dallocchio, Roberta Marchese, Matteo Bologna, Alessandro Tessitore, Salvatore Misceo, Angelo Fabio Gigante, Carmen Terranova, Vincenzo Moschella, Lazzaro di Biase, Raffaella Di Giacopo, Francesca Morgante, Francesca Valentino, Anna De Rosa, Assunta Trinchillo, Maria Chiara Malaguti, Livia Brusa, Angela Matinella, Francesca Di Biasio, Giulia Paparella, Rosa De Micco, Elena Contaldi, Nicola Modugno, Alessio Di Fonzo, Alessandro Padovani, Paolo Barone, TITAN Study Group
Published in:
Neurological Sciences
|
Issue 9/2022
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Abstract
Introduction
The recently released classification has revised the nosology of tremor, defining essential tremor (ET) as a syndrome and fueling an enlightened debate about some newly conceptualized entities such as ET-plus. As a result, precise information of demographics, clinical features, and about the natural history of these conditions are lacking.
Methods
The ITAlian tremor Network (TITAN) is a multicenter data collection platform, the aim of which is to prospectively assess, according to a standardized protocol, the phenomenology and natural history of tremor syndromes.
Results
In the first year of activity, 679 patients have been recruited. The frequency of tremor syndromes varied from 32% of ET and 41% of ET-plus to less than 3% of rare forms, including focal tremors (2.30%), task-specific tremors (1.38%), isolated rest tremor (0.61%), and orthostatic tremor (0.61%). Patients with ET-plus were older and had a higher age at onset than ET, but a shorter disease duration, which might suggest that ET-plus is not a disease stage of ET. Familial aggregation of tremor and movement disorders was present in up to 60% of ET cases and in about 40% of patients with tremor combined with dystonia. The body site of tremor onset was different between tremor syndromes, with head tremor being most commonly, but not uniquely, associated with dystonia.
Conclusions
The TITAN study is anticipated to provide clinically relevant prospective information about the clinical correlates of different tremor syndromes and their specific outcomes and might serve as a basis for future etiological, pathophysiological, and therapeutic research.