Transcranial sonography findings related to depression in parkinsonian disorders: cross-sectional study in 126 patients

Angela E P Bouwmans, Wim E J Weber, Albert F G Leentjens, Werner H Mess, Angela E P Bouwmans, Wim E J Weber, Albert F G Leentjens, Werner H Mess

Abstract

Background. Transcranial sonography (TCS) has emerged as a potential diagnostic tool for Parkinson's disease. Recent research has suggested that abnormal echogenicity of substantia nigra, raphe nuclei and third ventricle is associated with increased risk of depression among these patients. We sought to reproduce these findings in an ongoing larger study of patients with parkinsonian syndromes. Methods. A total of 126 patients with parkinsonian symptoms underwent the Hamilton Depression Scale, and TCS of the substantia nigra (SN) (n = 126), the raphe nuclei (RN) (n = 80) and the third ventricle (n = 57). We then calculated the correlation between depression and hyper-echogenic SN, hypo-echogenic RN and a wider third ventricle. Results. In patients with PD we found no significant difference of the SN between non-depressed and depressed patients (46% vs. 22%; p = 0.18). Non-depressed patients with other parkinsonisms more often had hyperechogenicity of the SN than depressed patients (51% vs. 0%; p = 0.01). We found no relation between depression and the echogenicity of the RN or the width of the third ventricle. Conclusions. In patients with parkinsonian syndromes, we found no association between depression and hyper-echogenic SN, hypo-echogenic RN or a wider third ventricle, as determined by transcranial sonography.

Keywords: Depression; Parkinsonisms; Parkinson’s disease; Raphe nuclei; Substantia nigra; Third ventricle; Transcranial sonography.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare there are no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1. Echogenicity of the substantia nigra…
Figure 1. Echogenicity of the substantia nigra in patients referred for parkinsonism, by depression (N = 16 with HamD > 10, n = 110 with HamD < 11) and by final diagnosis (IPD, n = 72; other, n = 54).
Figure 2. Echogenicity of the raphe nuclei…
Figure 2. Echogenicity of the raphe nuclei in patients referred for parkinsonism by depression (n = 12 with HamD > 10, n = 68 with HamD < 11), and by final diagnosis (IPD, n = 46; other (n = 34).
Figure 3. Division of width of third…
Figure 3. Division of width of third ventricle between patients with (n = 10) and without a depression (n = 47) divided by diagnosis IPD (n = 31) and other parkinsonisms (n = 26).

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