A cross-sectional study on drug use in multiple system atrophy
CNS Drugs. 2014-03-29; 28(5): 483-490
DOI: 10.1007/s40263-014-0159-1
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1. CNS Drugs. 2014 May;28(5):483-90. doi: 10.1007/s40263-014-0159-1.
A cross-sectional study on drug use in multiple system atrophy.
Rey MV(1), Perez-Lloret S, Pavy-Le Traon A, Meissner WG, Tison F, Rascol O.
Author information:
(1)Departments of Clinical Pharmacology and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine,
University Hospital and University of Toulouse 3, 37 Allées Jules Guesde, 31000,
Toulouse, France, .
BACKGROUND: Drug use has rarely been studied in multiple system atrophy (MSA)
while such patients receive many treatments based on weak evidence.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze drug use from the database of the French MSA Reference
Center, and to compare it with data from patients with Parkinson disease (PD).
METHODS: Medication of 147 MSA and 180 age- and sex-matched PD patients was
analyzed. Motor and autonomic symptoms were explored in MSA patients by the
SCOPA-Autonomic and Unified MSA Rating Scale (UMSARS).
RESULTS: MSA and PD patients received a mean of five different drugs. MSA
patients were more frequently exposed to laxatives, antidiabetic medications,
antihypotensives, muscarinic antagonists, alpha-adrenergic blockers, and
antidepressants. Levodopa consumption was less in MSA-C (cerebellar) patients
compared with MSA-P (parkinsonian) and PD patients. Dopamine agonists were more
consumed by PD than MSA patients. MSA patients with more severe disability
received more laxatives, anticoagulants, and antidepressants. MSA-P patients
received more analgesics. “Probable” MSA patients received more antihypotensives
and less alpha-adrenergic blockers. Patients with higher SCOPA-Autonomic scores
were more frequently on antihypotensives or antidepressants. Drug associations
leading to potential adverse interactions were uncommon (usually