Giovanni Rizzo1,2,3, David Neil Manners2, Claudia Testa2, Caterina Tonon2, Roberto Vetrugno4, Sara Marconi1,3, Giuseppe Plazzi1,3, Fabio Pizza1,3, Federica Provini1,3, Emil Malucelli5, Laura Ludovica Gramegna2, Raffaele Lodi2
1IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
2Functional MR Unit, Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DiBiNeM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
3Neurology Unit, Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DiBiNeM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
4Professional Consultant in Neurology, Bologna, Italy
5Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Tóm tắt
ABSTRACTBackgroundThe objective of this study was to use phase imaging to evaluate brain iron content in patients with idiopathic restless legs syndrome (RLS).MethodsFifteen RLS patients and 15 healthy controls were studied using gradient‐echo imaging. Phase analysis was performed on localized brain regions of interest selected on phase maps, sensitive to paramagnetic tissue. Differences between the 2 subject groups were evaluated using ANCOVA including age as a covariate.ResultsSignificantly higher phase values were present in the RLS patients compared with healthy controls at the level of the substantia nigra, thalamus, putamen, and pallidum, indicating reduced iron content in several regions of the brain of the patients.ConclusionsWe have used MRI phase analysis to study brain iron content in idiopathic RLS in vivo for the first time. Our results support the hypothesis of reduced brain iron content in RLS patients, which may have an important role in the pathophysiology of the disorder. © 2013 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
