engleski

Toxic Substance Exposure And Characteristics Of Parkinson's Disease

Background: Although the cause of Parkinson disease (PD) is unknown and genetic factors are responsible for only a minority of cases, toxic environmental influences can not be ruled out. The aim of this study was to detect possible neurotoxic influences on clinical course, disease characteristics and morphology of Nigral substance (NS) in PD patients. Patients: The study included 26 PD patients without any data about exposure to known PD related toxins, 15 PD patients occasionally exposed and 6 patients professionally daily exposed to numerous neurotoxic potent chemicals. Epidemiological screen data included exposure to pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals (manganese, mercury, lead, iron, zinc), organic solvents, head trauma, smoking, rural living and well water drinking. Methods: All PD patients underwent complete neurological and sonographic examination. Each patient underwent brain parenchyma sonography, and hyperechogenicity of NS was measured. We compared age of PD onset, UPDRS and H&Y score, levodopa dosage ; time between PD diagnosis was established and onset of late motor complications, dominating symptoms and sonographic results. Intergroup comparison was done with Students t-test. Results: Our results showed younger age of PD onset (p<0.05), the fastest development of late motor complications (p<0.05), rigor as dominating symptom, and UPDRS and H&Y score showing higher motor disability (p<0.05) in the highly exposed group. However, sonographic examination revealed no statistically significant difference in NS echogenicity between groups. Discussion: Results of this study suggest that exposure to toxins could cause younger age of onset of PD, acceleration of PD progression and higher incidence of motor disability.

Parkinson's disease; toxic substance; etiology

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