Multiple System Atrophy

It is a degenerative neurological disorder.Multiple system atrophy effects the nerve cells in specific areas of the brain and it causes problems with movement, balance, and autonomic functions of the body such as bladder control or blood-pressure regulation.MSA is also known as Shy-Drager syndrome. The symptoms of shy-drager are like Parkinson's disease-like symptoms.Currently there is no specific treatment available to cure multiple system atrophy.Physiotherapy can help to manage symptoms.

MSA is rapidly progressive and is associated with wheelchair dependence, unintelligible speech, intermittent urinary catheterization, disabling orthostatic hypotension, and cognitive impairment (executive dysfunction). Disease progression is assessed using the unified MSA rating scale (UMSARS), which rates activities of daily life, autonomic and motor impairment, as well as overall disability. Prognosis is poor with a median survival of 6-9 years.