Postmenopausal Parkinsonism: Brain Iron Overload?

Records of 11 postmenopausal parkinsonism patients were evaluated in comparison with those of 11 postmenopausal depression patients. None had a history of encephalitis, stroke, drug-induced or toxic extrapyramidal disorders, or active bleeding within six months before admission. There was no significant differences between the two groups with regard to time interval from menopause to onset of symptoms, height, weight, or age at first admission. Both groups showed normal height, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and erythrocyte counts. Parkinsonism patients were underweight and had a shorter interval from menopause to onset of symptoms (12.4 ± 1.9 vs. 16.8 ± 2.5 yr.). These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that in parkinsonism, hereditary pre disposition to positive body iron balance may be associated with alteration of the blood-brain barrier in parkinsonism.