Neurology

Answer 2 Lewy bodies. The characteristic microscopic finding in Parkinson’s disease is the Lewy body. A cytoplasmic inclusion, the eosinophilic Lewy body typically consists of a dense core surrounded by a less intensely stained region and a faint halo.3 The peripheral halo of the Lewy body is comprised of neurofilaments that stain for tau and ubiquitin.4 Lewy bodies have been identified in other disorders (ie, corticobasal ganglionic degeneration and diffuse Lewy body disease). In addition, incidental Lewy bodies have been noted during postmortem examination of elderly patients, with increasing prevalence in patients 60 years of age and older. The significance of this finding is unclear, although a preclinical form of Parkinson’s disease has been suggested as the cause.5 REFERENCES 3. Forno LS. Neuropathy of Parkinson’s disease. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 1996;55:259-72. 4. Pollanen MS, Bergeron C, Weyer L. Detergent-insoluble cortical Lewy body fibrils share epitopes with neurofilament and tau. J Neurochem 1992;58:1953-6. 5. Fernandez A, de Ceballos ML, Rose S, et al. Alterations in peptide levels in Parkinson’s disease and incidental Lewy body disease. Brain 1996;119(Pt 3):823-30. Click here to return to the questions

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