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Accuracy of diagnosis in patients with presumed Parkinson's disease. OBJECTIVES: to study the diagnostic accuracy for parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease in a community-based sample of subjects on anti-parkinsonian medication. METHODS: computerized prescribing records in general practice were used to create a community-based disease register for Parkinson's disease. Subjects were examined to establish the likely diagnosis using recommended clinical diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: of 402 cases, parkinsonism was confirmed in 74% and clinically probable Parkinson's disease in 53%. The commonest causes of misdiagnosis were essential tremor, Alzheimer's disease and vascular pseudo-parkinsonism. Over one-quarter of subjects did not benefit from anti-parkinsonian medication. CONCLUSIONS: there is difficulty in diagnosing parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease in elderly subjects and we suggest early referral of those suspected of having parkinsonism for specialist assessment. Age Ageing 1999 Mar;28(2):99-102 Meara J, Bhowmick BK, Hobson P University Department of Geriatric Medicine, Glan Clwyd Hospital, Rhyl, North Wales, UNITED KINGDOM PMID: 10350403, UI: 99277906 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ janet paterson 52 now / 41 dx / 37 onset PO Box 171 Almonte Ontario K0A 1A0 Canada a new voice http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Village/6263/ [log in to unmask]