Cerebral atrophy in multiple system atrophy by MRI

Cranial magnetic resonance images (MRI) of the cerebral areas of 40 patient s with multiple system atrophy (MSA) and of 61 age-matched controls were an alyzed. The cerebral area of MSA patients was 131.95+/-15.89 cm(2) (mean+/- S.D.), which was significantly smaller than that of normal controls at 149. 01+/-10.93 cm(2) (P<0.0001). All 23 MSA cases subjected to the MRI study ov er a 1-year period showed progressive cerebral atrophy, and the atrophy rat e was 2.46+/-1.66%/year. There were no significant differences within the M SA subtypes or between gender. The progression of cerebral atrophy in MSA c orrelated more with duration (r = -0.634) than age (r = -0.421). We conclud e that MRI findings throughout the course of MSA suggest progressive cerebr al atrophy, which is common in all subtypes and reflects duration of the di sease rather than age. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.