Objective: This study aims to evaluate the cortico-spinal tract impairment in PD and multiple system atrophy (MSA) Parkinsonian variant using triple stimulation technique (TST).

Background: The cortico-spinal tract impairment is no longer an absolute exclusion in the updated Parkinson’s disease (PD) criteria. However, this has not been fully investigated in patients with PD.

Methods: Twenty-five patients (15 MSA-P, 10 PD) and 12 age-matched healthy controls were sequentially recruited in this study. Pyramidal signs were recorded. All subjects were examined with TST at right abductor digiti minimi.

Results: All subjects were age-matched (PD: 55.1+/-5.8, MSA-P: 55.9+/-9.0, control: 54.6+/-9.6). The mean disease duration was 48 months in PD 24 months in MSA-P. The pyramidal signs were present in 53.3% of MSA-P and 30% of PD on the left side and 53.3% and 20% on the right, without statistical significance. The TST amplitude ratio was significantly lower in MSA-P group than healthy control group (68.0%+/-32.8% vs. 96.8%+/-3.0%, p<0.05). It was impaired in PD patients (73.4%+/-25.7%), however, no statistical significance was found when comparing with healthy control and MSA-P.

Conclusions: The cortico-spinal tract impairment is not a rare manifestation in PD and could be quantitatively evaluated with TST. This needs to be verified with amplified sample.

« Back to 2016 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/triple-stimulation-technique-findings-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-and-multiple-system-atrophy/