Purpose: To compare the order of presentation of bladder and motor symptoms between multiple system atrophy phenotypes.
Methods: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed in 144 patients.
Results: Bladder symptoms occurred either before or within 12 months after onset of motor symptoms in significantly more patients with the cerebellar phenotype than the parkinsonian phenotype (80 vs. 53%, p = 0.003); similar results were observed for urinary incontinence (79 vs. 45%, p = 0.001).
Conclusions: Urinary dysfunction is more likely to appear either before or shortly after motor symptoms in the cerebellar phenotype than in the parkinsonian phenotype.
Keywords: Autonomic dysfunction; Multiple system atrophy; Orthostatic hypotension; Urinary incontinence.