title: Multiple system atrophy-mimicking conditions: Diagnostic challenges.
abstract: Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a relentless progressive disorder without effective treatment. Its accurate diagnosis is important for the management of individual patients and for the development of new therapeutic strategies. However, there are many disorders which can mimic MSA (so-called 'MSA look-alikes'), and the true rate for over- or under-diagnoses of MSA is not known, especially during the early course of disease when the disease is not fully developed yet. Herein, the authors review the neurodegenerative, genetic, and immunologic conditions that can mimic MSA and thus be part of the differential diagnosis of MSA. Clinicians should be aware of these conditions and be able to differentiate them by clinical features and laboratory findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Movement Disorder Center, Parkinson Study Group, and Neuroscience Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, 101 Daehakro, Chongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: movement@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Han-Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Philipps Universität, Marburg, Germany; Second Department of Neurology, Attikon University Hospital, University of Athens, Rimini 1, 12462, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: mariastamelou@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stamelou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Movement Disorder Center, Parkinson Study Group, and Neuroscience Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, 101 Daehakro, Chongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: brain@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Beomseok
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jeon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics
keywords: Diagnosis; Genetic disorders; Look-alikes; Multiple system atrophy (MSA); Neurodegenerative disorders