Skin biopsy and I-123 MIBG scintigraphy findings in idiopathic Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism: A comparative study

Background: ¹²³I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (¹²³I-MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy is considered reliable in differentiating idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) from other parkinsonisms, but it is biased by pharmacological treatments. Skin biopsy is not influenced by therapy and has disclosed skin denervation in IPD. Our aims were to compare ¹²³I-MIBG scintigraphy and skin biopsy findings in IPD and parkinsonisms to (1) verify whether myocardial and skin denervations are linked; (2) explore the simultaneous extent of the autonomic dysfunction. Methods: We studied 22 IPD and 11 parkinsonism patients by means of ¹²³I-MIBG scintigraphy and skin biopsies. Results: In the IPD group, both ¹²³I-MIBG scintigraphy and skin biopsy results were abnormal in 91% of patients, showing concordance in 82% of cases. In parkinsonisms, results of both tests were normal in all patients. Conclusion: (1) Skin biopsy and ¹²³I-MIBG scintigraphy provide comparable results; (2) in IPD, autonomic dysfunctions are often simultaneously widespread at cardiac and skin branches.