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Epidemiology of primary blepharospasm
Giovanni Defazio1, Paolo Livrea
1Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences University of Bari, Bari, Italy. gdefazio@neurol.uniba.it
Summary
Epidemiological data on primary blepharospasm (BSP) show prevalence varies widely. Risk factors include age, female gender, family history, head trauma, and eye disease, suggesting environmental and genetic influences.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Primary blepharospasm (BSP) is a focal dystonia with poorly understood etiology.
- Prevalence estimates for BSP vary significantly across studies, potentially due to differences in physician awareness and diagnostic criteria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize existing epidemiological data on primary blepharospasm.
- To identify potential risk factors and etiological influences for BSP.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological studies, including prevalence data and case-control studies on adult dystonias involving BSP.
- Analysis of associations with demographic factors, medical history, and environmental exposures.
Main Results:
- Crude prevalence estimates for BSP range from 16 to 133 per million.
- Increased risk associated with age, female gender, family history of dystonia/tremor, head/face trauma, and prior eye disease.
- Decreased risk linked to cigarette smoking; no association with hypertension, diabetes, parkinsonism, anxiety, or depression.
- Higher frequency of obsessive-compulsive symptoms observed in BSP compared to hemifacial spasm.
Conclusions:
- Epidemiological data suggest that both environmental and familial/genetic factors likely contribute to the etiology of primary blepharospasm.
- Age, female gender, and head/face trauma may influence the spread of dystonia in BSP.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the complex factors underlying BSP development.