The frequency of buccopalpebral reflex in Parkinson disease

This study aimed to define the frequency of a primitive reflex, the buccopalpebral reflex (BPR), and its association with the clinical situation in patients with Parkinson disease.

Between May 2010 and May 2011, 222 patients, 115 with Parkinson disease and 107 patients without any sign of neurodegenerative disease, were included in the study. All included patients were examined for BPR and snout reflex and were also evaluated with the Mini Mental State Examination. All patients with Parkinson disease were classified with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and the Hoehn and Yahr Score to determine their clinical severity.

Sixteen patients with Parkinson disease (13.9%) had a BPR (+) and 4 patients in the control group (3.7%) (P < 0.001). The UPDRS score, UPDRS daily life activities score, and UPDRS motor system score were all higher in the group with BPR (+). All patients with a BPR also had a positive snout reflex.

BPR is more frequent in patients with Parkinson disease than in patients without a neurodegenerative disease.