PD is a progressive neurodegenerative illness that affects about 50.000 people in the Netherlands. Diagnosis is based on clinical criteria. However, purely on clinical grounds, especially in the early stage, it is not possible to differentiate PD from other parkinsonian syndromes like multiple system atrophy, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, vascular parkinsonism, drug induced parkinsonism and essential tremor. Accurate differentiation is important because treatment and prognosis varies between the different syndromes.

At present SPECT scans are used mostly. However the SPECT is only used in the minority of the patients suspected of PD mainly because the costs and the discussion about their sensitivity and specificity to diagnose PD. We are currently finishing a meta-analysis on the diagnostic value of the SPECT in patients with parkinsonian diseases.

Recently an alternative method to visualise the alterations in the cerebral dopaminergic pathways of PD patients has been proposed: TCD of the substantia nigra in the brainstem. This technique has high inter-observer reliability. Becker discovered in 1994 that patients with PD had bilateral hyperechogenicity of the substantia nigra. Neuropathological studies confirm the increased echogenicity is because of iron deposition. However the reason of the increased level of iron is unknown.

Several publications confirm the observation that up to 90% of PD patients have increased echogenicity of the substantia nigra. In healthy subjects and in patients with essential tremor this hyperintensity of the substantia nigra is only found in 10%. However 60% of the healthy subjects with increased echogenicity also have decreased nigra-striatal function on (18)-F-dopa-PET. So TCD might possibly be an early (presymptomatic) marker for PD.

If substantia nigra scanning is combined with scanning of the nucleus lentiformis, the differentiation between PD and APS is increased. Another advantage is that with the same technique the raphe nuclei can be made visible. Several studies confirm the echogenicity of raphe nuclei is decreased in PD patients with a depression.

Our own experience suggests that the positive predictive value of this technique nears that of SPECT scans. In our pilot study with 45 patients with PD or APS who underwent SPECT and TCS we found a positive prediction value of 95%. This would predict that, if TCE is compatible with PD, a SPECT does not provide additional information; so in theory one might reduce the amount of SPECT's in almost 50% of cases.

A direct compare of the diagnostic accuracy as to PD between duplex and SPECT scans has until now not been made. Our hypothesis is that the TCD of substantia nigra duplex scanning is an accurate diagnostic tool and deserves a place in the diagnostic work-up of PD/Parkinsonism patients and diagnostically efficient enough to replace 50% of SPECT scans. In comparison with SPECT duplex scanning is less costly (respectively 80 euro and 400 euro for each SPECT) and more comfortable for the patient.

Methods:

Subjects:

250 consecutive patients with new parkinsonian complaints in the out-patient clinic of our university hospital (Maastricht) and a local hospital.

Study design:

The investigator will give a clinical diagnosis at the first visit. All subjects undergo SPECT and duplex scanning, both tests will be judged blindly for the clinical diagnosis. After two years follow-up, all patients will be seen by the investigator and again a clinical diagnosis will be made (investigator is blinded for the results of the duplex and SPECT). At the end of the follow-up the sensitivity and specificity of the first clinical judgement, duplex and SPECT can be calculated. The golden standard is the clinical diagnosis at the end of the follow-up.