Environmental— occupational risk factors and familial associations in multiple system atrophy: A preliminary investigation

Abstract

We studied 60 patients with multiple system atrophy and autonomic failure and 60 control subjects matched for age, sex and race. Their psychosocial history, pedigree and occupation were obtained by personal interview. An inventory of autonomic and neurologic symptoms was obtained from 148 first-degree relatives of the patients and 80 controls by a self-administered questionnaire. Patients with multiple system atrophy had significantly more potential exposures to metal dusts and fumes, plastic monomers and additives, organic solvents, and pesticides than the control population. The potential exposures were determined in most subjects by their reported usual occupation. Clinical symptoms of multiple system atrophy were reported by a significantly larger group of patients' relatives than controls. These findings are possibly consistent with the hypothesis that multiple system atrophy develops as a result of a genetically determined selective vulnerability in the nervous system. Specific neuronal systems may become targets for environmental insults or toxins, and the disease state may occur when ageing neuronal systems can no longer sustain functional capacity. This preliminary study supports the need to further explore possible environmental, occupational, and familial contributions to the aetiology of multiple system atrophy.

Neuroprotective Effect of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in an Animal Model of Double Toxin-Induced Multiple System Atrophy Parkinsonism

“…with increased risk of MSA (19,28). In animal studies, Effects of hMSC Therapy on Modulation high-dose 3-NP administration also aggravated nigrostriof Inflammation and Gliosis in Animals atal and olivopontocerebellar degeneration in MSA Exposed to Double Toxins transgenic mice using proteolipid protein promoters (25).…”

The pathogenesis of multiple system atrophy: Past, present, and future

“…32 Familial cases have not been described, although clinical symptoms of MSA were reported by a significantly larger group of patients' relatives than control subjects in one study. 33 A selfadministered questionnaire was, however, used to elicit symptoms from the relatives in this series, leading to potential bias.…”

Epidemiology of Multiple System Atrophy: A Prevalence and Pilot Risk Factor Study in Aquitaine, France

“…Recent preliminary observations have suggested a possible environmental cause of MSA: (1) MSA and Parkinson's disease (PD) are both synucleinopathies [6][7][8][9] and thus may share some environmental causes that have already been implicated in PD [31][32][33][34][35][36][37]; (2) Hanna et al [38] reported 11 patients with a convincing history of exposure to environmental toxins, especially herbicides and pesticides, and (3) Nee et al [39], in a methodologically questionable case-control study, showed that MSA patients had a significantly higher exposure to metal dust and fumes, plastic monomers and additives, organic solvents and pesticides than the control population.…”