Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026

Tilt Testing with Combined Lower Body Negative Pressure: a "Gold Standard" for Measuring Orthostatic Tolerance
Published on: March 21, 2013
Orthostatic hypotension is differentially associated with the cerebellar versus the parkinsonian variant of multiple
Gregor Karl Wenning1, Roberta Granata, Florian Krismer
1Autonomic Unit, Division of Clinical Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. gregor.wenning@i-med.ac.at
Abstract:
Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a cardinal feature of autonomic failure in multiple system atrophy (MSA); however, there are few comparative data on OH in the motor subtypes of MSA. In the present retrospective study, postural blood pressure drop after 3 min of standing was determined in 16 patients with the cerebellar variant of MSA (MSA-C) and in 17 patients with the Parkinson variant (MSA-P). Twenty idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) patients matched for age, sex, disease duration and dopaminergic therapy served as control group. OH frequency and severity were more pronounced in MSA-C followed by MSA-P and IPD. Differences in brainstem pathology are likely to account for the tight association of MSA-C and OH. A simple standing test should be obligatory in the work-up of patients with sporadic late-onset ataxias.
Related Concept Videos
Alterations in Blood Pressure
Hypertension (High blood pressure)
Hypertension occurs when blood pressure readings consistently exceed the normal range. It is diagnosed when systolic blood pressure (the top number, indicating pressure while the heart beats)...
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...
Alterations in Muscle Tone lll
Parkinson Disease l: Introduction
Parkinson's Disease: Overview
Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology
