Wang Yang, Jiang Bingjie
Department of Nerve Electrophysiology, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, People's Republic of China.
Department of Neurosurgery, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, People's Republic of China.
Clin EEG Neurosci. 2025 Mar;56(2):181-184. doi: 10.1177/15500594241276269. Epub 2024 Sep 9.
Holmes tremor (HT) is a rare motor disorder characterized by high-amplitude and low-frequency resting, intentional, and postural tremors. HT typically arises from disruptions in neural pathways, including the dopaminergic system. Its causes include cerebrovascular incidents, neoplasms, demyelination, and infections. Diagnosis involves thorough clinical, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging assessments. Our report details the clinical profile, neuroimaging and EEG results and levodopa treatment response of an HT patient after cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) surgery. A female patient who underwent AVM surgery developed head tremor and dystonia. Neuroimaging revealed left thalamus involvement. Video electroencephalography (EEG) revealed high-amplitude, low-frequency tremors. The patient responded well to levodopa treatment. Involuntary rhythmic or non-rhythmic movements are a primary clinical feature of HT. A differential diagnosis of epilepsy and HT can be achieved through neurophysiological monitoring, avoiding the overuse of antiepileptic drugs. Symptoms can be alleviated with levodopa intervention.