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What Can Be Done For Multiple System Atrophy? BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D. SOURCE: The Yuma Sun, AZ WWWeb: http://tinyurl.com/5jgak Nov 19, 2004 DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My husband was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease six years ago. Six months ago, the diagnosis was changed to multiple system atrophy. In the past six months he has completely lost control of his body and is lying, dying, in a nursing home with hospice care. I have never heard of this disease. How does one get multiple system atrophy? -- M.O. ANSWER: There is no answer to your question. No one has yet figured out how people get this illness. Multiple system atrophy -- MSA -- can easily be mistaken for Parkinson's disease, particularly early in its course. Some estimate that up to 3 percent of those diagnosed with Parkinson's actually have MSA. There are some unique features to MSA. Many patients experience a great drop in blood pressure when they stand. That makes them dizzy, and they often fall. The condition is called orthostatic hypotension. People without MSA can have orthostatic hypotension, too, but it does provide a way to distinguish Parkinson's disease from MSA. Loss of bladder control is another common feature of MSA. Some MSA patients are no longer able to sweat. And many lose the ability to speak clearly because muscles to the vocal cords can be affected by the process. Multiple system atrophy usually begins earlier than Parkinson's, around age 50. It runs a much more rapid course to death -- six to nine years. In its early stages, Parkinson's medicines might help, but there is no special medicine for it. * * * Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. SOURCE: The Yuma Sun, AZ WWWeb: http://tinyurl.com/5jgak * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn