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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Microvascular Ischemic Disease The Correct Diagnosis?

Hello. I am a 61-year-old woman, with Diabetes II, hypertension and am being treated for depression. Last year, a neurologist diagnosed me with Parkinson s Disease. I had retired after experiencing some mental and physical difficulties in my teaching job. He did motor and vision tests. I presented with tremors felt both externally and internally, some language-related memory problems, dropping things and falling, gait and balance problems. I had some muscle slowness, but not severe. In addition, I had Restless Leg Syndrome, which kept me from resting. The doctor prescribed accordingly. Recently I moved to another town and the new neurologist felt my tremors were not from Parkinson s. After a few unrevealing motor tests, she sent me for an MRI, which revealed microvascular ischemic disease.Is this MRI sufficient to negate the PD diagnosis? Her only message to me was that the MRI was okay. Can you suggest some questions I might take to my appointment with her next week?
Fri, 29 Jan 2016
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  User's Response
Hello!

I read carefully your question and understand your concern.

Your MRI finding have revealed chronic changes of the small vessels in the brain, leading to small repeated brain strokes. It is related to uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes.

From the other hand this MRI findings can exclude Parkinson disease, but can not exclude Parkinson syndrome, which means that you have the clinical features of Parkinson, but they are related to damage to the basal ganglia caused by small vessel disease.

Parkinson's Syndrome is diagnosed based on the physical examination.

Further tests to consider would be DAT scan, which could examine better the damage to the basal ganglia.

Levo-Dopa trial can be performed to examine your response to this drug. If it is positive, Parkinson's syndrome would be likely and treatment with dopa agonist drugs or levo-dopa should be considered.

Meanwhile, I recommend you to closely monitor your blood pressure and fasting glucose, and take aspirin and a statin to prevent further progression of small vessel disease, leading to further aggravation of your situation.

Hope you will find this answer helpful!

Kind regards,
Dr. Aida
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Is Microvascular Ischemic Disease The Correct Diagnosis?

Hello! I read carefully your question and understand your concern. Your MRI finding have revealed chronic changes of the small vessels in the brain, leading to small repeated brain strokes. It is related to uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes. From the other hand this MRI findings can exclude Parkinson disease, but can not exclude Parkinson syndrome, which means that you have the clinical features of Parkinson, but they are related to damage to the basal ganglia caused by small vessel disease. Parkinson s Syndrome is diagnosed based on the physical examination. Further tests to consider would be DAT scan, which could examine better the damage to the basal ganglia. Levo-Dopa trial can be performed to examine your response to this drug. If it is positive, Parkinson s syndrome would be likely and treatment with dopa agonist drugs or levo-dopa should be considered. Meanwhile, I recommend you to closely monitor your blood pressure and fasting glucose, and take aspirin and a statin to prevent further progression of small vessel disease, leading to further aggravation of your situation. Hope you will find this answer helpful! Kind regards, Dr. Aida