Publications

  • Nils G. Margraf, Oliver Granert, Julia Hampel, Arne Wrede, Walter J. Schulz-Schaeffer, Günther Deuschl: Clinical Definition of Camptocormia in Parkinson's Disease. Movement Disorders Clinical Practice, Volume 4, Issue 3, May/June 2017, Pages: 349–357.
  • In this paper for the first time we empirically define a forward bending angle of more than 30° that establish a diagnosis of camptocormia with certainty. Furthermore a broader clinical description of camptocormia is depicted. The definition of the angle is important for therapy studies. However, we have to point out that a diagnosis of camptocormia cannot be ruled out with an angle below 30°.

 

  • Nils G. Margraf, Arne Wrede, Günther Deuschl, Walter Schulz-Schaeffer: Pathophysiological Concepts and Treatment of Camptocormia. J Parkinsons Dis. 2016 Jun 16;6 (3):485-501.
  • In this review paper an overview is given concerning the spectrum of diseases connected with camptocormia, its so far known pathophysiology and the treatment options.

 

  • Nils G Margraf, A Rohr, O Granert, J Hampel, A Drews, G Deuschl: MRI of lumbar trunk muscles in patients with Parkinson’s disease and camptocormia. Journal of Neurology 2015 Jul; 262(7): 1655-64.
  • This paper is dealing with the diagnostical importance of muscle MRI in parkinsonian camptocormia. A set of radiological criteria is defined. Utilizing T1 and STIR sequences it is possible to detect acute and chronic changes in the paravertebral muscles. Dependent on the duration of camptocormia an acute phase with oedema and swelling is followed from a growing fatty replacement and degeneration of the paravertebral muscles. Possibly this is of great relevance for therapy options.

 

  • Walter J Schulz-Schaeffer*, Nils G Margraf*, Sari Munser, Arne Wrede, Carsten Buhmann, Günther Deuschl, Christian Oehlwein: Effect of Neurostimulation on Camptocormia in Parkinson's Disease Depends on Symptom Duration. Movement Disorders 2015 Mar; 30(3): 368-72.
  • In this retrospective case series we display that deep brain stimulation in the STN might be helpful in case of parkinsonian camptocormia when the duration of camptocormia is less than 3 years. Possibly the fatty degeneration leads to untreatable changes in the paravertebral muscles and impairs the muscle as the most important effector.

 

  • Arne Wrede, Nils G Margraf, Hans H Goebel, Günther Deuschl, Walter J Schulz-Schaeffer: Myofibrillar disorganization characterizes myopathy of camptocormia in Parkinson’s disease. Acta Neuropathologica 2012 Mar; 123(3): 419-32.
  • Parkinsonian camptocormia has an unspecific but monomorphic pathological appearance of myopathic changes. Most importantly a myofibrillar disorganization of the paravertebral muscles can be shown. The type of the pathological findings leads to the hypotheses that a deregulation of the proprioception might be a relevant cause of camptocormia.

 

  • Nils G Margraf, Arne Wrede, Axel Rohr, Walter J Schulz-Schaeffer, Jan Raethjen, Andrea Eymess, Jens Volkmann, Maximilian H Mehdorn, Olav Jansen, Günther Deuschl: Camptocormia in Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease: A Focal Myopathy of the Paravertebral Muscles. Movement Disorders 2010 Apr 15; 25(5): 542-51.
  • By different methods (muscle MRI, muscle biopsy, EMG) we can show consistently that the parkinsonian camptocormia is pathophysiologically connected with a myopathy of the paravertebral muscles of so far unknown origin.