Hiperreflexia in Multisystem Atrophy (MSA)

Clinical Context and Diagnosis

• The American Academy of Neurology suggests that hiperreflexia is part of the spectrum of motor manifestations of MSA, which includes parkinsonism (present in 87% of cases), cerebellar ataxia (64%), and autonomic dysfunction (83% with urinary dysfunction) 1
• The presence of hiperreflexia helps to distinguish MSA from idiopathic Parkinson's disease, where deep tendon reflexes are typically normal or decreased 2
• In contrast to MSA, reflexes are decreased or absent in most patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome, making it a fundamental diagnostic characteristic of this condition 3