Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore the correlation between white matter hyperintensities(WMH) and the clinical features of Parkinson's disease(PD) when examined by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).MethodsThe correlation between WMH,periventricular hyperintensities(PVH),deep white matter hyperintense signals(DWMH) in MRI and age,disease duration,distribution in 64 patients with PD and 45 age-matched healthy controls was studied.ResultsThe frequency of WMH was higher in patients with PD,but no significant difference compared with controls(P>0.05).The patients with WMH were significantly older(P<0.01) and more severity(P<0.01) than those without WMH,but disease duration was no significant difference(P>0.05).The frequency of DWMH was higher in patients with PD,but no significant difference compared with controls(P>0.05).The patients with DWMH were significantly older(P<0.01) than those without DWMH,but disease duration and severity were no significant difference(P>0.05).The frequency of PVH was higher in patients with PD and having a significant difference compared with controls(P<0.05).The patients with PVH were significantly older(P<0.01) and more severity than those without PVH,but disease duration was no significant difference(P>0.05).The distribution of DWMH was not significantly different between patients with PD and controls (P>0.05),but distribution of PVH was significantly different between patients with PD and controls(P<(0.05)).ConclusionPVH may influence some clinical features of PD characterized by a greater disease severity.