Carotid intima-media thickness in Parkinson's disease.
There have been a few studies and inconsistent results regarding the coincidence of Parkinson's disease (PD) and atherosclerotic diseases, such as cerebrovascular disease. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a known marker for subclinical atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the carotid IMT between PD patients and controls. We studied 43 patients with PD and 86 matched controls. The carotid IMT in PD patients was significantly smaller than in controls (0.796 +/- 0.179 mm vs. 0.913 +/- 0.237 mm, P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, the carotid IMT was inversely associated with the duration of levodopa medication and the severity of PD. These results suggest that PD patients have a lower risk of atherosclerosis.
Lee
Jong-Moon
JM
Department of Neurology, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Republic of Korea.
Park
Kun-Woo
KW
Seo
Woo-Keun
WK
Park
Moon Ho
MH
Han
Changsu
C
Jo
Inho
I
Ahn Jo
Sangmee
S
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa