Early detection of Huntington's disease. Blink reflex and levodopa load in presymptomatic and incipient subjects.

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Abstract
The R2 response on the blink reflex was abnormal in 7 of 17 Huntington''s disease descendants. Such abnormalities were present in 4 untreated subjects and in 3 further subjects after administration of a single oral dose of L-dopa-carbidopa. An increase in latency and differential latency (4 cases) or in a single one of these parameters (3 cases) were the abnormalities found, resembling findings in 4 incipient cases detected during routine family surveys. Continuous administration of L-dopa-carbidopa over a 10-20 day period did not induce new characteristics in the blink reflex, nor increase those detected previously and no case developed chorea. It was suggested that the analysis of the blink reflex after a single oral L-dopa-carbidopa dosage could provide an objective and quantifiable method for the detection of individuals at risk for Huntington''s disease.
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