Multiple system atrophy-mimicking conditions: Diagnostic challenges

Han-Joon Kim; Maria Stamelou; Beomseok Jeon

doi:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2015.09.003

Multiple system atrophy-mimicking conditions: Diagnostic challenges

Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2016 Jan:22 Suppl 1:S12-5. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2015.09.003. Epub 2015 Sep 5.

Authors

Han-Joon Kim¹, Maria Stamelou², Beomseok Jeon³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology and Movement Disorder Center, Parkinson Study Group, and Neuroscience Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, 101 Daehakro, Chongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: movement@snu.ac.kr.
² Department of Neurology, Philipps Universität, Marburg, Germany; Second Department of Neurology, Attikon University Hospital, University of Athens, Rimini 1, 12462, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: mariastamelou@gmail.com.
³ Department of Neurology and Movement Disorder Center, Parkinson Study Group, and Neuroscience Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, 101 Daehakro, Chongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: brain@snu.ac.kr.

PMID: 26365777
DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2015.09.003

Abstract

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a relentless progressive disorder without effective treatment. Its accurate diagnosis is important for the management of individual patients and for the development of new therapeutic strategies. However, there are many disorders which can mimic MSA (so-called 'MSA look-alikes'), and the true rate for over- or under-diagnoses of MSA is not known, especially during the early course of disease when the disease is not fully developed yet. Herein, the authors review the neurodegenerative, genetic, and immunologic conditions that can mimic MSA and thus be part of the differential diagnosis of MSA. Clinicians should be aware of these conditions and be able to differentiate them by clinical features and laboratory findings.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Genetic disorders; Look-alikes; Multiple system atrophy (MSA); Neurodegenerative disorders.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Diagnosis, Differential
Humans
Mitochondrial Diseases / diagnosis
Mitochondrial Diseases / genetics
Multiple Sclerosis / diagnosis
Multiple Sclerosis / genetics
Multiple System Atrophy / diagnosis*
Multiple System Atrophy / genetics*
Neurodegenerative Diseases / diagnosis
Neurodegenerative Diseases / genetics