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Parkinson’s disease and cerebrovascular disease: is there a link? A neurosonological case–control study

Neurological Sciences volume 37, pages 1707–1711 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) frequently occur in the elderly; however, CVD is not frequent in the PD population. The possible relationship between PD and CVD was studied with controversial findings. More specifically, it is unclear whether PD can be protective against the development of vascular disease. To assess the neurosonological examination of a group of PD patients matched with a control group of patients not affected by PD along with the potential risk of developing CVD in the PD group to evaluate any differences. The analysis of the left common carotid artery (CCA) revealed a mean intima-media thickness (IMT) of 0.77 ± 0.21 mm in the PD group and 0.83 ± 0.17 mm in the control group, while the right CCA mean IMT was 0.61 ± 0.17 mm in the PD patients and 0.98 ± 0.18 mm in the control group. The difference was statistically significant in both sides. PD patients show a lower IMT value in older age (70–80 years) and a reduced cardiovascular risk.

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Acknowledgments

Authors would thank Maria Grazia Pavei, English mother language teacher, for providing English language assistance on this manuscript.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Ospedale San Martino di Belluno (BL), Viale Europa 22, CAP 32100, Belluno, Italy

    Sandro Zambito Marsala, Manuela Gioulis & Cecilia Lo Cascio

  2. Department of Neurology, Ospedale di Santorso, Alto Vicentino via Garziere 42, CAP 36014, Santorso (VI), Italy

    Michele Pistacchi

Authors
  1. Sandro Zambito Marsala
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  2. Manuela Gioulis
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  3. Michele Pistacchi
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  4. Cecilia Lo Cascio
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Correspondence to Sandro Zambito Marsala.

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The authors declare that they acted in accordance with ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki.

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Zambito Marsala, S., Gioulis, M., Pistacchi, M. et al. Parkinson’s disease and cerebrovascular disease: is there a link? A neurosonological case–control study. Neurol Sci 37, 1707–1711 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-016-2660-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-016-2660-4

Keywords

  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Cerebrovascular disease
  • Doppler ultrasound examination
  • Intima-media thickness
  • Carotid artery