Premium
Midbrain hyperechogenicity in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder
Author(s) -
Stockner Heike,
Iranzo Alex,
Seppi Klaus,
Serradell Mónica,
Gschliesser Viola,
Sojer Martin,
Valldeoriola Francesc,
Molinuevo José L.,
Frauscher Birgit,
Schmidauer Christof,
Santamaria Joan,
Högl Birgit,
Tolosa Eduardo,
Poewe Werner
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.22483
Subject(s) - midbrain , rem sleep behavior disorder , cohort , parkinson's disease , medicine , cohort study , case control study , disease , echogenicity , psychology , gastroenterology , pathology , surgery , central nervous system , ultrasonography
Recent studies have reported an increased risk to develop Parkinson's disease (PD) in patients with idiopathic RBD (iRBD). Midbrain hyperechogenicity is a common transcranial sonography (TCS) finding in PD and has been suggested as a PD risk‐marker in nonparkinsonian subjects. The objective of this study is to assess midbrain echogenicity by TCS in patients with iRBD and compare the findings with the healthy controls. TCS was performed in 55 iRBD patients and in 165 age and sex‐matched controls. The area of echogenicity in the SN region in the iRBD group was significantly increased compared with the control group ( P < 0.001). About 19 (37.3%) of patients with iRBD were found to have SN hyperechogenicity when compared with 16 (10.7%) of the controls ( P < 0.001). This is the first case‐control study assessing midbrain echogenicity in a large iRBD cohort compared to age‐ and sex‐matched healthy individuals. The finding of an increased prevalence of hyperechogenicity in a subgroup of individuals with a priori increased risk for PD supports the potential role of hyperechogenicity as a risk marker for PD. The prospective follow‐up of this iRBD cohort is needed to establish if those with midbrain hyperechogenicity will go on to develop clinically defined PD or not. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society