Multiple system atrophy

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a group of unexplained sporadic adult-onset progressive neurological degenerative diseases that were first named by Graham and Oppenheimer in 1969. They mainly involve the extrapyramidal system, cerebellum, autonomic nerves, Brain stem and spinal cord. The syndrome involves multiple systems, including the striatum nigra and cerebellar cerebellum, the spinal cord autonomic nerve center, and even the anterior horn, lateral cord, and peripheral nervous system of the spinal cord. The clinical manifestations are different combinations of functional disorders such as Parkinson's syndrome, cerebellum, autonomic nerves, and pyramidal tracts, so they can be clinically summarized into 3 syndromes: mainly striatum nigra degeneration of extrapyramidal system dysfunction. (SND), Shy-Drager syndrome (SDS) mainly manifested as autonomic dysfunction, and sporadic olive pontine cerebellar atrophy (OPCA) mainly manifested as ataxia. In fact, it is often difficult to distinguish between these diseases. Graham and Oppenheimer summarized the cases with similar clinical symptoms and signs in the literature, and proposed that the three syndromes are different authors' descriptions and nomenclatures of an independent degenerative disease of the nervous system. There is only the affected site and severity between them The difference is that the symptoms of one system appear earlier or are severely affected clinically, and the symptoms of other systems appear late or the degree of involvement is relatively mild. Neuropathological examination results confirmed that the degree of involvement of each system is completely consistent with the characteristics of clinical manifestations. Currently, in the MEDLINE database, OPCA, SDS, and SND are classified as MSA.

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