I read with great interest the article by Pezzoli et al. [1] because I recently saw a 65-year-old dry cleaner who developed Parkinson disease (PD). After a meta- analysis, Pezzoli et al. concluded that exposure to either pesticides or solvents is a risk factor for PD. I would like the authors to further clarify some points in the article so that I can further understand the potential role of perchloroethylene in PD.
Higher quality articles, as Pezzoli et al. define them, refer to a study with a NOS score >6; perhaps this should be included for clarity.
A +30% increase of PD risk was found using only higher-quality articles as Pezzoli et al. define them and they refer to a study with a NOS score >6. Based on the numbers in Table 1, perhaps the increase is more likely to be +17%. Can Pezzoli et al. confirm an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 1.1 for solvents exposure taken (ref e-83) because Tanaka et al. reported less exposure to solvents in the PD group. [2]
In addition, the sample size used in reference e-11 was 373 cases and 371 controls [3] and the authors sampled 380 and 376 people, respectively. [1] Would the overall AOR be modified after corrections? Could women be more susceptible to develop PD after solvent exposure? Reference e-69 notes that AORs were 1.7 (0.98-3.04) and 1.0 (0.68-1.34) after exposure to solvents, for women and men, respectively. [4]
1. Pezzoli D, Cereda E. Exposure to pesticides or solvents and risk of Parkinson disease. Neurology 2013; 41:2035-2042.
2. Tanaka K, Miyake Y, Fukushima W, et al. Fukuoka Kinki Parkinson's Disease Study Group. Occupational risk factors for Parkinson's disease: a case-control study in Japan. BMC Neurol 2011;11:83.
3. Seidler A, Hellenbrand W, Robra BP, et al. Possible environmental, occupational, and other etiologic factors for Parkinson's disease: a case-control study in Germany. Neurology 1996;46:1275-1284.
4. Firestone JA, Lundin JI, Powers KM, et al. Occupational factors and risk of Parkinson's disease: A population-based case-control study. Am J Ind Med 2010;53:217-223.
For disclosures, please contact the editorial office at journal@neurology.org.
I read with great interest the article by Pezzoli et al. [1] because I recently saw a 65-year-old dry cleaner who developed Parkinson disease (PD). After a meta- analysis, Pezzoli et al. concluded that exposure to either pesticides or solvents is a risk factor for PD. I would like the authors to further clarify some points in the article so that I can further understand the potential role of perchloroethylene in PD. Higher quality articles, as Pezzoli et al. define them, refer to a study with a NOS score >6; perhaps this should be included for clarity. A +30% increase of PD risk was found using only higher-quality articles as Pezzoli et al. define them and they refer to a study with a NOS score >6. Based on the numbers in Table 1, perhaps the increase is more likely to be +17%. Can Pezzoli et al. confirm an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 1.1 for solvents exposure taken (ref e-83) because Tanaka et al. reported less exposure to solvents in the PD group. [2] In addition, the sample size used in reference e-11 was 373 cases and 371 controls [3] and the authors sampled 380 and 376 people, respectively. [1] Would the overall AOR be modified after corrections? Could women be more susceptible to develop PD after solvent exposure? Reference e-69 notes that AORs were 1.7 (0.98-3.04) and 1.0 (0.68-1.34) after exposure to solvents, for women and men, respectively. [4]
1. Pezzoli D, Cereda E. Exposure to pesticides or solvents and risk of Parkinson disease. Neurology 2013; 41:2035-2042.
2. Tanaka K, Miyake Y, Fukushima W, et al. Fukuoka Kinki Parkinson's Disease Study Group. Occupational risk factors for Parkinson's disease: a case-control study in Japan. BMC Neurol 2011;11:83.
3. Seidler A, Hellenbrand W, Robra BP, et al. Possible environmental, occupational, and other etiologic factors for Parkinson's disease: a case-control study in Germany. Neurology 1996;46:1275-1284.
4. Firestone JA, Lundin JI, Powers KM, et al. Occupational factors and risk of Parkinson's disease: A population-based case-control study. Am J Ind Med 2010;53:217-223.
For disclosures, please contact the editorial office at journal@neurology.org.