原发性震颤 (ET) 的病理生理学尚未定义,但是各方面的证据表明会累及小脑、脑干及丘脑。[27]Louis ED. Etiology of essential tremor: should we be searching for environmental causes? Mov Disord. 2001;16:822-829.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11746611?tool=bestpractice.com患者经常存在小脑功能异常。此外,报道过一起急性小脑卒中以排除原发性震颤。[28]Dupuis MJ, Delwaide PJ, Boucquey D, et al. Homolateral disappearance of essential tremor after cerebellar stroke. Mov Disord. 1989;4:183-187.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2733709?tool=bestpractice.com影像学显示小脑、红核及下橄榄核中血流增加,提示这些累及部位是震颤的原因或结果。[29]Boecker H, Wills AJ, Ceballos-Baumann A, et al. The effect of ethanol on alcohol-responsive essential tremor: a positron emission tomography study. Ann Neurol. 1996;39:650-658.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8619551?tool=bestpractice.com[30]Dubinski R, Hallett M. Glucose hypermetabolism of the inferior olive in patients with essential tremor. Ann Neurol. 1987;22:118.[31]Jenkins IH, Bain PG, Colebatch JG, et al. A positron emission tomography study of essential tremor: evidence for overactivity of cerebellar connections. Ann Neurol. 1993;34:82-90.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8517685?tool=bestpractice.com脑磁图和功能性磁共振成像 (MRI) 研究也表明小脑是震颤回路的一部分。[32]Gallea C, Popa T, García-Lorenzo D, et al. Intrinsic signature of essential tremor in the cerebello-frontal network. Brain. 2015;138:2920-2933.http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/138/10/2920.longhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26115677?tool=bestpractice.com[33]Buijink AW, van der Stouwe AM, Broersma M, et al. Motor network disruption in essential tremor: a functional and effective connectivity study. Brain. 2015;138:2934-2947.http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/138/10/2934.longhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26248468?tool=bestpractice.com[34]Boelmans K, Kaufmann J, Bodammer N, et al. Involvement of motor pathways in corticobasal syndrome detected by diffusion tensor tractography. Mov Disord. 2009;24:168-175.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18973249?tool=bestpractice.com
哈马灵是一种会过度激活攀缘纤维而损伤小脑浦肯野细胞的神经毒素,据报道,动物暴露于哈马灵后可出现一种类似于 ET 的震颤。[35]Elble RJ. Origins of tremor. Lancet. 2000;355:1113-1114.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10791368?tool=bestpractice.com[36]Martin FC, Thu Le A, Handforth A. Harmaline-induced tremor as a potential preclinical screening method for essential tremor medications. Mov Disord. 2005;20:298-305.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15580562?tool=bestpractice.com[37]O'Hearn E, Molliver ME. Degeneration of Purkinje cells in parasagittal zones of the cerebellar vermis after treatment with ibogaine or harmaline. Neuroscience. 1993;55:303-310.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8377927?tool=bestpractice.com[38]Cheng MM, Tang G, Kuo SH. Harmaline-induced tremor in mice: videotape documentation and open questions about the model. Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y). 2013;3:tre-03-205-4668-1.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3863988/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24386609?tool=bestpractice.com免疫组化研究发现了 ET 小脑中的攀缘纤维突触病变;[39]Lin CY, Louis ED, Faust PL, et al. Abnormal climbing fibre-Purkinje cell synaptic connections in the essential tremor cerebellum. Brain. 2014;137:3149-3159.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4240294/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25273997?tool=bestpractice.com这种病理特征与震颤严重性相关,[40]Louis RJ, Lin CY, Faust PL, et al. Climbing fiber synaptic changes correlate with clinical features in essential tremor. Neurology. 2015;84:2284-2286.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25948728?tool=bestpractice.com并且攀缘纤维病变属于 ET 特有。[41]Kuo SH, Lin CY, Wang J, et al. Climbing fiber-Purkinje cell synaptic pathology in tremor and cerebellar degenerative diseases. Acta Neuropathol. Acta Neuropathol. 2017;133:121-138.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27704282?tool=bestpractice.com有趣的是,ET 患者的脑深部电刺激似乎能够调节攀缘纤维病变。[42]Kuo SH, Lin CY, Wang J, et al. Deep brain stimulation and climbing fiber synaptic pathology in essential tremor. Ann Neurol. 2016;80:461-465.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27422481?tool=bestpractice.com总的来说,这些研究着重显示了攀缘纤维和震颤之间的关系。全基因组关联 (GWA) 研究发现 LINGO1 和 SLC1A2/EAAT2 遗传多态性与 ET 相关。[24]Stefansson H, Steinberg S, Petursson H, et al. Variant in the sequence of the LINGO1 gene confers risk of essential tremor. Nat Genet. 2009;41:277-279.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3740956/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19182806?tool=bestpractice.com[25]Thier S, Lorenz D, Nothnagel M, et al. Polymorphisms in the glial glutamate transporter SLC1A2 are associated with essential tremor. Neurology. 2012;79:243-248.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3398434/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22764253?tool=bestpractice.comET 病例研究中发现篮状细胞末端 LINGO1 表达异常,考虑到浦肯野细胞轴索周围的篮状细胞末端中 LINGO1 尤其丰富,那么这种异常可能会影响浦肯野细胞的突触传递。[43]Kuo SH, Tang G, Louis ED, et al. Lingo-1 expression is increased in essential tremor cerebellum and is present in the basket cell pinceau. Acta Neuropathol. 2013;125:879-889.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3663903/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23543187?tool=bestpractice.com此外,ET 小脑皮质中的 EAAT2 表达减少,可能会导致浦肯野细胞因攀缘纤维过度活跃而出现兴奋性中毒。[44]Lee M, Cheng MM, Lin CY, et al. Decreased EAAT2 protein expression in the essential tremor cerebellar cortex. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2014;2:157.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4239402/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25391854?tool=bestpractice.com浦肯野细胞丢失和/或相关的小脑病变可能会导致 ET 患者的疾病进展。[45]Babij R, Lee M, Cortés E, et al. Purkinje cell axonal anatomy: quantifying morphometric changes in essential tremor versus control brains. Brain. 2013;136:3051-3061.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3784286/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24030953?tool=bestpractice.com[46]Louis ED, Lee M, Babij R, et al. Reduced Purkinje cell dendritic arborization and loss of dendritic spines in essential tremor. Brain. 2014;137:3142-3148.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4240305/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25367027?tool=bestpractice.com[47]Kuo SH, Erickson-Davis C, Gillman A, et al. Increased number of heterotopic Purkinje cells in essential tremor. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2011;82:1038-1040.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3856652/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20802031?tool=bestpractice.com另一方面,ET 齿状核中的 EAAT2 水平也出现降低,表明小脑皮质和齿状核之间的兴奋性神经传递失调可能在震颤的发病中发挥了作用。[48]Wang J, Kelly GC, Tate WJ, et al. Excitatory amino acid transporter expression in the essential tremor dentate nucleus and cerebellar cortex: a postmortem study. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2016;32:87-93.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27624392?tool=bestpractice.com
能够影响 GABA - 能系统的乙醇、苯二氮平类药物、巴比妥类及加巴喷丁等多种药物可抑制原发性震颤。[49]Louis ED. A new twist for stopping the shakes? Revisiting GABAergic therapy for essential tremor. Arch Neurol. 1999;56:807-808.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10404981?tool=bestpractice.com这就是诸多患者报告其摄入酒精后震颤减轻的原因。在 ET 中,齿状核中缺失 GABA 能张力可能是由于浦肯野细胞末端丢失所致。[50]Paris-Robidas S, Brochu E, Sintes M, et al. Defective dentate nucleus GABA receptors in essential tremor. Brain. 2012;135:105-116.http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/135/1/105.longhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22120148?tool=bestpractice.comGABA(A)-受体 α-1 亚基敲除小鼠出现 ET 特征性震颤,并且对扑米酮、普萘洛尔和加巴喷丁有反应,显示了 GABA 能神经功能障碍在 ET 中的作用。[51]Kralic JE, Criswell HE, Osterman JL, et al. Genetic essential tremor in gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptor alpha1 subunit knockout mice. J Clin Invest. 2005;115:774-779.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1052003/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15765150?tool=bestpractice.com
ET 发病年龄呈双峰分布。早发性 ET 病例更多见震颤家族史,而晚发性 ET 病例震颤进展速度更快,并且患上痴呆的风险更高。[52]Louis ED, Ford B, Barnes LF. Clinical subtypes of essential tremor. Arch Neurol. 2000;57:1194-1198.http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/777304http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10927801?tool=bestpractice.com[53]Louis ED, Benito-León J, Ottman R, et al; Neurological Disorders in Central Spain (NEDICES) Study Group. A population-based study of mortality in essential tremor. Neurology. 2007;69:1982-1989.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18025392?tool=bestpractice.com[54]Deuschl G, Petersen I, Lorenz D, et al. Tremor in the elderly: essential and aging-related tremor. Mov Disord. 2015;30:1327-1334.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4779797/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26095699?tool=bestpractice.com[55]Bermejo-Pareja F, Louis ED, Benito-León J; Neurological Disorders in Central Spain (NEDICES) Study Group. Risk of incident dementia in essential tremor: a population-based study. Mov Disord. 2007;22:1573-1580.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17516478?tool=bestpractice.com“年龄相关性震颤”一词是针对晚发性 ET 病例而提出的。[54]Deuschl G, Petersen I, Lorenz D, et al. Tremor in the elderly: essential and aging-related tremor. Mov Disord. 2015;30:1327-1334.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4779797/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26095699?tool=bestpractice.com一项脑电图 (EEG) 研究显示,早发性和晚发性 ET 病例在震颤脑回路方面也存在不同,尤其是在小脑受累方面。[56]Muthuraman M, Deuschl G, Anwar AR, et al. Essential and aging-related tremor: differences of central control. Mov Disord. 2015;30:1673-1680.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26347194?tool=bestpractice.com但是,早发性和晚发性 ET 病例在小脑病变方面类似。[57]Kuo SH, Wang J, Tate WJ, et al. Cerebellar pathology in early onset and late onset essential tremor. Cerebellum. 2016 Oct 10 [Epub ahead of print].http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27726094?tool=bestpractice.com