title: Role of dysautonomic symptoms in distinguishing Parkinson's disease (PD) from multiple system atrophy (MSA-P) within a year of developing motor symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Can dysautonomic symptoms occurring within a year of developing motor symptoms distinguish Multiple system atrophy-Parkinsonian (MSA-P) from Parkinson's disease (PD)?
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-two Parkinsonian patients diagnosed as probable PD or MSA-P.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PD (n = 58, 80.6%) and MSA (n = 14, 19.4%) patients were of similar age and had motor symptoms for similar duration. PD first presents with motor symptoms (68.3%) while MSA-P presents with dysautonomia (85.7%). Urinary incontinence was reported by MSA-P (64%) at their first visit and was absent in most PD (98%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urinary incontinence and orthostatic symptoms occurring in a parkinsonian patient within one-year history of motor symptoms suggests a diagnosis of MSA-P with high accuracy and their absence suggests PD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore 560029, India.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ragothaman
authors.forename: Pazhayannur V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Swaminath
authors.forename: Nagaraja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sarangmath
authors.forename: Suma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koshy
authors.forename: Mohan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adhyam
authors.forename: Dodaballapur K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Subbakrishna
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Mathias
authors.forename: Uday B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Muthane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004244:Dizziness; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D054969:Primary Dysautonomias / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis