title: [Multiple system atrophy: prognostic factors in the "MSA-Aquitaine" cohort].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a common cause of atypical parkinsonism, of poor prognosis. MSA is associated with short survival but data stemming from clinical or pathological studies are sparse and contrasted. Factors predicting survival in MSA are not fully established. We investigated the survival and prognostic factors of MSA in the cohort "MSA-Aquitaine".
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study of an unselected cohort of patients included throughout Aquitaine based on the Consensus Conference statement concerning MSA diagnostic criteria, with prospective follow-up on mortality. All patients received a standard clinical examination and disease history was collected through medical records and interviews of patients. Survival was ascertained by telephonic calls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 1 November 1998 to 1 April 2002, we diagnosed 86 patients (43 men and 43 women) with "probable" or "possible" MSA. Median survival from study inclusion was 2.4 years and was 10.2 years from clinical onset, very similar to the other series. Low age at study, diabetes, dysphagia, Hoehn and Yahr stage 5 can predict shorter survival in patients with MSA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirm that the prognosis for MSA patients is poor and that some factors may predict shorter survival.
authors.affiliation: Département de Neurologie, Groupe Hospitalier Sud, CHU de Bordeaux.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krim
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yekhlef
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chrysostome
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ghorayeb
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tison
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000401:mortality*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate