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UK PDS Brain Bank Criteria for the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Step 1. Diagnosis of a parkinsonian syndrome (1)

Bradykinesia and at least one of the following:
• muscular rigidity
• rest tremor (4–6 Hz)
• postural instability unrelated to primary visual, cerebellar, vestibular or proprioceptive dysfunction.

Step 2. Exclusion criteria for Parkinson's disease (PD)

History of :
• repeated strokes with stepwise progression
• repeated head injury
• antipsychotic or dopamine-depleting drugs
• definite encephalitis and/or oculogyric crises on no drug treatment
• more than one affected relative
• sustained remission
• negative response to large doses of levodopa (if malabsorption excluded)
• strictly unilateral features after 3 years
• other neurological features: supranuclear gaze palsy, cerebellar signs, early severe autonomic involvement, Babinski sign, early severe dementia with disturbances of language, memory or praxis
• exposure to known neurotoxin
• presence of cerebral tumour or communicating hydrocephalus on neuroimaging.

Step 3. Supportive criteria for PD

Three or more required for diagnosis of definite PD :

  • unilateral onset
  • excellent response to levodopa
  • rest tremor present
  • severe levodopa-induced chorea
  • progressive disorder
  • levodopa response for over 5 years
  • persistent asymmetry affecting the side of onset most
  • clinical course of over 10 years.

Reference:


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