The purpose of this study was to elucidate the clinical features of laryngeal stridor in 104 patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) and to predict the hazard risk. Stridor was observed in 36 patients. It occurred in the first year of the disease in 10 cases, and 69% of the cases were diagnosed with stridor within the first 4 years. Dysphagia and hoarseness had a statistically higher frequency in the stridor group, and the onset period of these elements correlated with the onset of stridor. A follow-up study of survival probability was carried out in 83 patients. The median survival period in the stridor group (33 cases) and the non-stridor group (50 cases) was 8.0 and 9.0 years, respectively. Treatment for stridor decreased the relative risk from 2.998 to 0.147. Laryngeal stridor is a common and early clinical symptom in MSA. Early treatment for stridor is advisable to reduce mortality.
Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel