Shy-Dragger Syndrome – An underdiagnosed sad reality?

Abstract

Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) regards a group of neurodegenerative diseases sharing the same physiopathology. It is a rare group of diseases and often represents a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. Mild symptoms are present at the onset of the disease and are often neglected by patients. The case report describes a 62-year-old female with multiple episodes of syncope with 3 months evolutions. Anamnesis revealed sleep apnoea and urinary incontinence. In order to perform complementary exams, the patient was admitted to the medical ward. Autoimunnity results were negative discarding this etiology; 24-hour arterial pressure monitoring revealed a severe fluctuation of tensional values capable of explaining syncope. Other exams revealed no pathological alterations responsible for the patient complaints. Multiple System Atrophy diagnosis was made after exclusion of other possible aetiological causes for the patient’s symptoms. More prevalent diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease, atypical Parkinsonic syndromes, and pure autonomic failure, among others may replicate the same symptoms. Diagnosing the patient with Multiple System Atrophy represented a challenge because of its rarity and clinical complexity. Being a disease with poor outcomes and representing necessary lifestyle changes to the patients and family life, an early and exact diagnosis may provide time and more life quality, within the disease limitations. Internists are often presented with complex patients being obligated to gather all pieces, and put them together, so that de puzzle may be deciphered. Learning points - Multiple systems atrophy is a rare incapacitating disease and it is believed to be underdiagnosed; - Complex diseases often present mild nonlimiting symptoms that patients might tend to neglect.