Introduction. The definition of parkinsonian syndromes is based on clinical criteria. Objective. To determine the frequency and management of parkinsonism, ruing criteria of inclusion and exclusion. Patients and methods. We selected 302 consecutive patients, 147 females and 155 males, with parkinsonism, age 66.8 (11.4) (range: 13-90), grades of education 7.5 (4.3) (range: 0-20). A structured and quantitative protocol was applied to the sample. Results. The most frequent parkinsonian syndrome was the defined idiopathic Parkinson's disease with 132 participants (43.7%). Probably idiopathic Parkinson's disease was found in 60 cases (19.9%), and possible idiopathic Parkinson's disease in eight cases (2.6%); early onset Parkinson's disease in 10 cases (3.3%),juvenile Parkinson's disease in one case (0.3), familial Parkinson's disease in five cases (1.7%); cortical Lewy body disease in 16 cases (5.4%), progressive supranuclear palsy in nine cases (3.3%), multiple systemic atrophy in eight cases (2.6%). Secondary Parkinson's disease was distributed as follow: vascular disease in 24 cases (8%), local lesion in II cases (3%), medications in 16 cases (5.3%) meningoencephalitis in one case (0.3%) and syphilis in one case (0.3%). Without medication was found 1.5% of sample, which,was in Hoehn & Yarh's state Ito II. In monetherapy was found 23.2%, with two medications 46.7%, with three 23.5% and with four drugs 5.1%. Levodopa was prescript to 70.9%, anticholinergic to 51.3%, MAO-B-I to 33.4%, amantadine to 33.1%, D2 stimulants to 18.5%, and COMT-I to 2.6%. Conclusion. Structured protocol for assessment of parkinsonian syndromes allows reliable diagnoses for clinical and epidemiological purposes.
