Benign essential tremor. A clinical survey of 82 patients from Campania, a region of southern Italy.

We report a clinical survey of 82 patients with benign essential tremor (ET). Sixty five patients had a positive family history. Onset age showed two peaks before 20 years and in the sixth decade. Segregation analysis confirmed an autosomal dominant inheritance. Head tremor occurred mainly in aged women, mental symptoms occurred mainly in subjects with a low onset age and a disabling tremor. An early onset age was not related to paternal or maternal transmission. In one family ET was associated with retinitis pigmentosa and ichthyosis.