Alterations in transcranial sonography among Huntington’s disease patients with psychiatric symptoms

Transcranial sonography (TCS) is a diagnostic tool in mood and movement disorders. Alterations within the raphe mesencephalic nucleus in the brain have been reported not only in patients with major depression but in patients with depressive symptoms accompanying several neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of the study was to assess the echogenicity of the nucleus raphe and other basal ganglia in patients with Huntington’s disease (HD). TCS was performed in 127 HD patients participating in observational studies (Registry/Enroll-HD) in the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology (Warsaw, Poland). Raphe hypoechogenicity was found in 78% of HD patients with current symptoms of depression (according to DSM-IV criteria), 57% of patients with a previous history of depression, and 56.8% patients who lacked signs or history of depression. Patients with hypoechogenic raphe reported significantly higher depression as measured on the BDI (15.6 ± 1.7) as compared to patients with normal echogenicity (9.5 ± 1.2), (p = 0.023). The diameter of the third ventricle was negatively correlated with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) (rho − 0.37) and total functional capacity (TFC) scores (rho − 0.26). Hyperechogenic substantia nigra was visualized in 66,4% patients with HD and the degree of hyperechogenicity was correlated with the total motor score (TMS) (rho − 0.38). Changes in echogenicity of the basal ganglia are related to both depressive and motor symptoms among patients with HD.