TABLE 1.
Patients' characteristics and comparison between groups
| Variable | All patients | Comparison based on MSA type | Comparison based on initial symptom | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean ± SD or frequency (n = 20) | MSA‐P (n = 13) | MSA‐C (n = 7) | P‐value | Motor impairment only (n = 10) | Autonomic failure (n = 10) | P‐value | |
| Demographics (y) | |||||||
| Age of onset (n = 20) | 38.58 ± 2.12 | 38.4 ± 2.3 | 38.9 ± 1.7 | 0.75 | 38.7 ± 1.6 | 38.47 ± 2.6 | 0.85 |
| Time from onset to diagnosis (n = 20) | 6.66 ± 4.53 | 6.9 ± 5.03 | 6.06 ± 3.7 | 0.64 | 8.28 ± 5.1 | 5.04 ± 3.3 | 0.07 |
| Time from diagnosis to death | 2.97 ± 1.99 | 3.1 ± 2.01 | 2.55 ± 2.09 | 0.72 | 3.2 ± 2.2 | 2.79 ± 1.9 | 0.88 |
| Time from onset to death | 9.06 ± 4.02 | 9.4 ± 4.6 | 8.1 ± 2.08 | 0.50 | 10.8 ± 4.02 | 7.8 ± 3.7 | 0.13 |
| Age of death | 47.77 ± 3.70 | 47.87 ± 4.2 | 47.5 ± 2.3 | 0.95 | 49.8 ± 4.5 | 46.3 ± 2.1 | 0.08 |
| Autonomic function testing | |||||||
| TST (%) | 66.57 ± 38.58 | 71.07 ± 34.6 | 55.7 ± 49.5 | 0.57 | 67.5 ± 39.8 | 65.5 ± 39.7 | 1 |
| CASS‐A | 4.78 ± 2.25 | 5.07 ± 2.2 | 4.1 ± 2.4 | 0.42 | 4.5 ± 2.3 | 5 ± 2.2 | 0.58 |
| CASS‐T | 5.93 ± 2.40 | 6.1 ± 2.08 | 5.25 ± 3.5 | 0.66 | 5.5 ± 2.4 | 6.3 ± 2.4 | 0.39 |
| Clinical features | |||||||
| LEDD (last visit) | 1013.33 ± 859.99 | 1083.33 ± 940.67 | 733.33 ± 404.14 | 0.94 | 986.33 ± 826.98 | 1053.83 ± 986.56 | 0.81 |
| Presence of dystonia | 8 (40%) | 7 (53.8%) | 1 (14.3%) | 0.15 | 6 (60%) | 2 (20%) | 0.16 |
| Positive Babinski | 5 (25%) | 2 (15.4%) | 3 (42.9%) | 0.28 | 2 (20%) | 3 (30%) | 1 |
| Hyperreflexia | 11 (55%) | 7 (53.8%) | 5 (71.4%) | 0.64 | 7 (70%) | 5 (50%) | 0.64 |
Abbreviations: MSA, multiple system atrophy; SD, standard deviation; MSA‐P, multiple system atrophy‐parkinsonism; MSA‐C, multiple system atrophy‐cerebellar ataxia; TST, thermoregulatory sweat test; CASS‐A, Composite Autonomic Severity Score using findings from autonomic reflex screen only; CASS‐T, Composite Autonomic Severity Score using findings from both autonomic reflex screen and thermoregulatory sweat test; LEDD, levodopa equivalent daily dose.