Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Franthal, S.
Brain iron deposits in Parkinson's disease
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Graz Medical University; 2016. pp. 71
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Franthal Sebastian Othmar
- Betreuer*innen:
- Homayoon Nina
- Schwingenschuh Petra
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- Abstract:
- Objective To describe longitudinal evolution of brain iron deposits in Parkinson’s disease (PD) over a period of two years, measured by R2* weighted MRI, and compare the findings to non-degenerative tremor syndromes. Materials and Methods 32 PD patients and 15 patients suffering from non-degenerative tremor syndromes (i.e. essential or dystonic tremor) were drawn from the longitudinal registry on movement disorders in Graz (PROMOVE). All subjects underwent detailed clinical examination and 3T MRI scans at baseline and after a follow-up period of two years. R2* was reconstructed from gradient echo sequences, acquired with the identical spoiled 3D FLASH sequence, with 6 equally spaced echoes. Results During the two year evolution of PD, R2* increased significantly in substantia nigra and tended to correlate inversely with increase in L-dopa equivalent dose. R2* values contralateral to the clinically more affected side did not show stronger increase and there was no significant difference between tremor dominant and non-tremor dominant motor phenotype in PD. We found no significant difference between PD and the non-degenerative tremor group in R2* increase. However, R2* values in substantia nigra were significantly higher in PD compared to the non-degenerative tremor group at baseline and follow-up, which is a novel finding. Conclusions There is a trend for stronger longitudinal increase of iron concentration in substantia nigra in PD compared to our control group and a possible protective effect of levodopa on iron deposits in substantia nigra in PD. Further studies including higher case-numbers and more sensitive techniques are needed. R2* might be useful as a cost-effective, non-invasive biomarker in differential diagnosis of tremor syndromes.