title: Epidemiology of multiple system atrophy. ESGAP Consortium. European Study Group on Atypical Parkinsonisms.
abstract: Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a form of atypical parkinsonism with unknown etiology. The epidemiological studies conducted up to now on this disease are scarce. The incidence rate is about 0.6 cases per 100,000 persons per year. The prevalence rates show 4-5 cases per 100,000 persons. In Italy, about 4,900 prevalent cases have been estimated. The mean onset age is about 54 years; the median survival is 7-9 years. Only one case-control study has been performed on this disease. This study showed an increased risk of MSA associated with occupational exposure to organic solvents, plastic monomers and additives, pesticides and metals. Smoking habits seem to be less frequent in MSA cases (as in Parkinson's disease cases) than in healthy controls. Quinn's clinical criteria and those of the Consensus Conference promoted by the American Academy of Neurology are in fair agreement. We have performed a case-control study on 73 MSA cases, 146 hospital controls and 73 population controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vanacore
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bonifati
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fabbrini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colosimo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Michele
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nicholl
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Locuratolo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Talarico
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stocchi
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bonuccelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Mari
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vieregge
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meco
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate