Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients with and without Parkinsonism: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a major public health concern on a global scale. Patients with CKD have a heightened risk of developing multiple movement disorders like parkinsonism. Timely diagnosis through imaging and effective management may hold the key to mitigating disease symptoms. Material and Methods: Twenty-eight individuals with CKD were categorized into two groups, nine patients showing signs of parkinsonism and a control group of nineteen patients without parkinsonism. All participants underwent non-contrast brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, including T1, T2, DWI, and FLAIR sequences. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS-24 and STATA software. Results: Nine patients exhibited parkinsonism symptoms, while nineteen did not. Brain MRI revealed hypointensities in structures like the putamen, globus pallidus, and cerebellar dentate nucleus in both groups. Comparative analysis showed no statistically significant differences in the percentages of these findings (P>0.05). Similarly, the presence of cerebral atrophy and cerebrovascular disease did not significantly differ between the groups. Factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and history of dialysis also failed to show significant distinctions (P>0.05 for all). Conclusion: The correlation between brain MRI alterations in CKD patients with parkinsonism symptoms and those without was not significant. Nevertheless, there was a strong association between the duration of CKD in patients and the presence of parkinsonism-related signs.