Dysphagia is one of the major axial symptoms in multiple system atrophy and carries a high risk of mortality — often presenting much earlier than in Parkinson disease. When a patient with multiple system atrophy develops difficulty swallowing, a structured approach is needed.
The patient has multiple system atrophy with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). This complication significantly affects safety and quality of life, and requires specific management stratified by severity.
For mild to moderate dysphagia, management focuses on dietary and behavioural modifications — including adjustments to meal volume, fluid consistency, and swallowing technique — rather than pharmacological intervention.
The complete protocol covers severity-stratified recommendations, specific techniques, and further steps. Access the full regimen below.
DOI: 10.1212/cont.0000000000001598
Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is one of the major axial symptoms in patients with multiple system atrophy associated with a high risk of mortality, which often occurs much earlier than in patients with Parkinson disease.
Reducing meal volumes, adjusting consistency (such as the use of thickeners for fluids), eating slowly with concentration, and adjusting posture while swallowing (eg, the chin-tuck maneuver and supraglottic swallow maneuver) should be implemented in patients with mild and moderate dysphagia.
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