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Visual hallucinations, white matter lesions and disease severity in Parkinson's disease
Author(s) -
Kraft E.,
Winkelmann J.,
Trenkwalder C.,
Auer D. P.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1999.tb07365.x
Subject(s) - white matter , hyperintensity , visual hallucination , parkinson's disease , magnetic resonance imaging , medicine , disease , psychology , central nervous system disease , audiology , radiology
Objectives – To determine if visual hallucinations in patients with Parkinson's disease are associated with an increased prevalence of white matter lesions. Patients and methods – Fifteen patients with (group 1) and 15 patients without (group 2) a history of visual hallucinations were studied. Both groups were matched for age. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed in all patients using standard T 2 weighted Fast‐Spin‐Echo sequences. Assessment of cerebral white matter changes was performed using a modification of established criteria, with semiquantitative evaluation of periventricular and deep white matter changes. Results – There was no significant group difference with regard to the total amount of white matter changes, nor was a group difference found between the amount or extent of periventricular hyperintensities or deep white matter lesions. Group 1 was significantly ( P =0.001) more disabled as evaluated by Hoehn/Yahr stage controlling for age and duration of disease. Mean increases in Hoehn/Yahr stage were not significantly greater in group 1 compared with group 2 at a 2‐year follow‐up examination (0.6 vs 0.3, P =0.166). Conclusion – Our data suggest that visual hallucinations are an indicator of a more aggressive course of the disease, but are not associated with a higher prevalence of global or occipital white matter lesions.