Multiple system atrophy: Current and future approaches to management
Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2010-06-23; 3(4): 249-263
DOI: 10.1177/1756285610375328
Lire sur PubMed
1. Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2010 Jul;3(4):249-63. doi: 10.1177/1756285610375328.
Multiple system atrophy: current and future approaches to management.
Flabeau O(1), Meissner WG, Tison F.
Author information:
(1)Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder without any
effective treatment in slowing or stopping disease progression. It is
characterized by poor levodopa responsive Parkinsonism, cerebellar ataxia,
pyramidal signs and autonomic failure in any combination. Current therapeutic
strategies are primarily based on dopamine replacement and improvement of
autonomic failure. However, symptomatic management remains disappointing and no
curative treatment is yet available. Recent experimental evidence has confirmed
the key role of alpha-synuclein aggregation in the pathogenesis of MSA. Referring
to this hypothesis, transgenic and toxic animal models have been developed to
assess candidate drugs for MSA. The standardization of diagnosis criteria and
assessment procedures will allow large multicentre clinical trials to be
conducted. In this article we review the available symptomatic treatment, recent
results of studies investigating potential neuroprotective drugs, and future
approaches for the management in MSA.
DOI: 10.1177/1756285610375328
PMCID: PMC3002658
PMID: 21179616