title: Videofluoroscopic and manometric evaluation of swallowing function in patients with multiple system atrophy.
abstract: We investigated swallowing function of 29 patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) by videofluoroscopy and manometry. Abnormal findings in videofluoroscopy were generally consistent with those in Parkinson's disease. Although findings of videofluoroscopy were not correlated with a history of aspiration pneumonia, severity of disease was significantly correlated with a history of aspiration pneumonia. Oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal swallowing pressures of the patients were decreased to 73.9 +/- 48.4 mm Hg and 85.3 +/- 42.9 mm Hg, respectively, both of which were significantly different from the pressures of the control group. Incomplete relaxation of the upper esophageal sphincter was seen in 23.1% of the MSA patients, all of whom had had MSA for more than 5 years. In conclusion, patients with MSA are at risk for aspiration pneumonia as disease severity increases, and the swallowing function of patients with more than 5 years' duration of MSA should be routinely followed up with both videofluoroscopy and manometry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryuzaburo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Higo
authors.forename: Niro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tayama
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Takaharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nitou
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ugawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000503:physiopathology; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014741:Video Recording