Objective: The study was to investigate the alteration of iron accumulation in nigrosome for the early treatment of dopamine loss in PD.

Background: Iron accumulation in the nigrosome induced dopaminergic neuron loss. Despite the known benefit of levodopa in alleviating the disability of Parkinson’s disease (PD), concern has been risen that its use might modify the iron deposition in nigrosome. The study was to investigate the alteration of iron accumulation in nigrosome for the early treatment of dopamine loss in PD.

Method: In this retrospective study, 23 PD patients were chosen and observed for the alteration of iron deposition in substantia nigra due to the early or late treatment by levodopa. UPDRS-III motor scale was applied to evaluate the motor symptoms. Brain neuroimaging with susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) (slice=0.6mm) was used to evaluate the volume of nigrosome-1. The correlation analysis was done to calculate the UPDRS III scores and iron accumulation.

Results: The clinical movement symptoms and degree of nigrosome loss was evaluated at the following milestones 6-month, 1-year, 3-year, 4-5-year, 6-7-year and 12-year of PD. The correlation analysis indicated that the degree of nigrosome loss was correlated with decreased UPDRS III motor scores and severity of symptoms. Over the same period of time with PD, the iron accumulation in nigrosome was apparently decreased with early treatment of PD patients compared with no or irregular mediation treatment. Moreover, early treatment for PD with levodopa alleviates clinical movement symptoms and prevents physical deformity.

Conclusion: Thus, the early diagnosis and treatment for PD seems particularly important. Early administration of levodopa might mediate the neuroprotective role correlated with iron accumulation and slow the rate of disability.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-modification-of-iron-accumulation-in-nigrosome-by-levodopa-treatment-in-early-parkinsons-disease/