Nigral iron deposition in common tremor disorders.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

We investigated R2* relaxation rates as a marker of iron content in the substantia nigra in patients with common tremor disorders and explored their diagnostic properties.

Methods

Mean nigral R2* rates were measured in 40 patients with tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease (PD), 15 with tremor in dystonia, 25 with essential tremor, and 25 healthy controls.

Results

Tremor-dominant PD patients had significantly higher nigral R2* values (34.1 ± 5.7) than those with tremor in dystonia (30.0 ± 3.9), essential tremor (30.6 ± 4.8), and controls (30.0 ± 2.8). An R2* threshold of 31.15 separated tremor-dominant PD from controls with a sensitivity and specificity of 67.5% and 72%. The sensitivity and specificity for discrimination between PD and non-PD tremor patients w

SUBMITTER: Homayoon N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6590652 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature