Dr. Elizabeth Coon and Prof. Franziska Hopfner discuss the frequency and disease trajectory of MSA patients who do not experience dysautonomia, in comparison to those with autonomic involvement.

Show citation:

Wilkens I, Bebermeier S, Heine J, et al. Multiple System Atrophy Without Dysautonomia: An Autopsy-Confirmed Study. Neurology. 2025;105(11):e214316. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000214316

Show transcript:

Dr. Elizabeth Coon:

Welcome to the Neurology Minute. I'm Elizabeth Coon, and I'm delighted to welcome Professor Hopfner, who will give us a summary of her recently published paper in Neurology, "Multiple System Atrophy Without Dysautonomia and Autopsy Confirmed Study." Welcome, Professor Hopfner. Please tell us about this study and the key findings.

Prof. Franziska Hopfner:

So this work reframes how we think about MSA. So, autonomic failure is common but not universal and its absence does not rule out the diagnosis of MSA. So recognizing motor only in multiple system atrophy expands our diagnostic accuracy, improves patients consulting and broadens inclusions in future therapeutic trials.

Dr. Elizabeth Coon:

Excellent. Thank you. And thank you for listening to this Neurology Minute.