Midbrain hyperechogenicity in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder.
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.
Stockner
Heike
H
Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria.
Iranzo
Alex
A
Seppi
Klaus
K
Serradell
Mónica
M
Gschliesser
Viola
V
Sojer
Martin
M
Valldeoriola
Francesc
F
Molinuevo
José L
JL
Frauscher
Birgit
B
Schmidauer
Christof
C
Santamaria
Joan
J
Högl
Birgit
B
Tolosa
Eduardo
E
Poewe
Werner
W
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D020187:REM Sleep Behavior Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial / Q000379:methods