MRI Signal Intensity and Parkinsonism in Manganese-Exposed Workers

Authors

Susan R. Criswell, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (Dr Criswell, Dr Nielsen, Mr Warden, Mr Flores, Mr Lenox-Krug, Ms Racette, and Dr Racette); Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington (Dr Sheppard); Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington (Dr Sheppard); Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California (Dr Checkoway); Department of Neurosciences, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California (Dr Checkoway); School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, South Africa (Dr Racette).
Susan Searles Nielsen
Mark N. Warden
Hubert P. Flores
Jason Lenox-Krug
Sophia Racette
Lianne Sheppard
Harvey Checkoway
Brad A. Racette

Document Type

Article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: T1-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the basal ganglia provides a noninvasive measure of manganese (Mn) exposure, and may also represent a biomarker for clinical neurotoxicity. METHODS: We acquired T1-weighted MRI scans in 27 Mn-exposed welders, 12 other Mn-exposed workers, and 29 nonexposed participants. T1-weighted intensity indices were calculated for four basal ganglia regions. Cumulative Mn exposure was estimated from work history data. Participants were examined using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor subsection 3 (UPDRS3). RESULTS: We observed a positive dose-response association between cumulative Mn exposure and the pallidal index (PI) (β = 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93 to 3.74). There was a positive relationship between the PI and UPDRS3 (β = 0.15; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.27). CONCLUSION: The T1-weighted pallidal signal is associated with occupational Mn exposure and severity of parkinsonism.

Medical Subject Headings

Adult; Aged; Basal Ganglia (diagnostic imaging); Case-Control Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Manganese Poisoning (diagnostic imaging, etiology); Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases (chemically induced, diagnostic imaging); Occupational Exposure (adverse effects, analysis); Parkinsonian Disorders (chemically induced, diagnostic imaging); Severity of Illness Index; Welding

Publication Date

8-1-2019

Publication Title

Journal of occupational and environmental medicine

E-ISSN

1536-5948

Volume

61

Issue

8

First Page

641

Last Page

645

PubMed ID

31348423

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1097/JOM.0000000000001634

Recommended Citation

Criswell, Susan R.; Nielsen, Susan Searles; Warden, Mark N.; Flores, Hubert P.; Lenox-Krug, Jason; Racette, Sophia; Sheppard, Lianne; Checkoway, Harvey; and Racette, Brad A., "MRI Signal Intensity and Parkinsonism in Manganese-Exposed Workers" (2019). Neurology. 1150.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neurology/1150