title: Orthostatic hypotension is differentially associated with the cerebellar versus the parkinsonian variant of multiple system atrophy: a comparative study.
abstract: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a cardinal feature of autonomic failure in multiple system atrophy (MSA); however, there are few comparative data on OH in the motor subtypes of MSA. In the present retrospective study, postural blood pressure drop after 3 min of standing was determined in 16 patients with the cerebellar variant of MSA (MSA-C) and in 17 patients with the Parkinson variant (MSA-P). Twenty idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) patients matched for age, sex, disease duration and dopaminergic therapy served as control group. OH frequency and severity were more pronounced in MSA-C followed by MSA-P and IPD. Differences in brainstem pathology are likely to account for the tight association of MSA-C and OH. A simple standing test should be obligatory in the work-up of patients with sporadic late-onset ataxias.
authors.affiliation: Autonomic Unit, Division of Clinical Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. gregor.wenning@i-med.ac.at
authors.forename: Gregor Karl
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Wenning
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Granata
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Krismer
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dürr
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seppi
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Poewe
authors.forename: Katharine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bleasdale-Barr
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Mathias
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012791:Shy-Drager Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology