John C Morgan1, Xiaolan Ye2, Jennifer A Mellor3, Keisha J Golden4, Jorge Zamudio5, Louis A Chiodo6, Yanjun Bao7, Tao Xie8. 1. Movement & Memory Disorders Program, Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence, Department of Neurology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA. Electronic address: jmorgan@augusta.edu. 2. AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: xiaolan.ye@abbvie.com. 3. Adelphi Real World, Bollington, UK. Electronic address: jennifer.mellor@adelphigroup.com. 4. Adelphi Real World, Bollington, UK. Electronic address: keisha.golden@adelphigroup.com. 5. AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: jorge.zamudio@abbvie.com. 6. AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: louis.chiodo@abbvie.com. 7. AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: carol.bao@abbvie.com. 8. Movement Disorder Program, Department of Neurology, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: txie@neurology.bsd.uchicago.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disorder with symptoms including vertical gaze palsy, frequent falls, abnormal gait, and cognitive/language/behavioral changes, making diagnosis and treatment challenging. METHODS: Descriptive analysis was undertaken of cross-sectional, real-world data for patients with PSP provided by neurologists in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and USA. RESULTS: Data on 892 PSP patients were obtained from patient records. Common initial symptoms included difficulty walking/maintaining gait, confusion/disorientation, loss of balance/falling, and rigidity. These symptoms and vertical gaze palsy commonly aided diagnosis. At data collection, dysphagia and blepharospasm were also very common. Mean times from symptom-onset to consulting a healthcare professional and PSP diagnosis were 5.2 and 15.0 months, respectively. General practitioners or movement disorder specialists were most commonly consulted initially; 98% of patients were diagnosed with PSP by a movement disorder specialist or general neurologist. Alternative diagnoses, including Parkinson's disease (67%) and dementia (10%), were considered for 41% of patients prior to PSP diagnosis. Non-wheelchair walking aids and wheelchairs were used by 60% and 23% of patients, respectively, with mean times from symptom-onset to use being 20.8 and 39.5 months, respectively. Symptomatic medication, most often levodopa and antidepressants, was prescribed for 87% of patients. CONCLUSION: This study provided information on disease course and treatment for a large number of PSP patients from various countries. PSP carries a considerable clinical burden. Diagnosis is often delayed. Consulting a movement disorder specialist might expediate diagnosis. Currently, only symptomatic treatments are available with a poor satisfaction, and there is an urgent need for disease-modifying agents.
BACKGROUND:Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disorder with symptoms including vertical gaze palsy, frequent falls, abnormal gait, and cognitive/language/behavioral changes, making diagnosis and treatment challenging. METHODS: Descriptive analysis was undertaken of cross-sectional, real-world data for patients with PSP provided by neurologists in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and USA. RESULTS: Data on 892 PSPpatients were obtained from patient records. Common initial symptoms included difficulty walking/maintaining gait, confusion/disorientation, loss of balance/falling, and rigidity. These symptoms and vertical gaze palsy commonly aided diagnosis. At data collection, dysphagia and blepharospasm were also very common. Mean times from symptom-onset to consulting a healthcare professional and PSP diagnosis were 5.2 and 15.0 months, respectively. General practitioners or movement disorder specialists were most commonly consulted initially; 98% of patients were diagnosed with PSP by a movement disorder specialist or general neurologist. Alternative diagnoses, including Parkinson's disease (67%) and dementia (10%), were considered for 41% of patients prior to PSP diagnosis. Non-wheelchair walking aids and wheelchairs were used by 60% and 23% of patients, respectively, with mean times from symptom-onset to use being 20.8 and 39.5 months, respectively. Symptomatic medication, most often levodopa and antidepressants, was prescribed for 87% of patients. CONCLUSION: This study provided information on disease course and treatment for a large number of PSPpatients from various countries. PSP carries a considerable clinical burden. Diagnosis is often delayed. Consulting a movement disorder specialist might expediate diagnosis. Currently, only symptomatic treatments are available with a poor satisfaction, and there is an urgent need for disease-modifying agents.
Authors: Sarah M Bower; Stephen D Weigand; Farwa Ali; Heather M Clark; Hugo Botha; Julie A Stierwalt; Jennifer L Whitwell; Keith A Josephs Journal: Mov Disord Clin Pract Date: 2021-12-31
Authors: Demetris Pillas; Alexander Klein; Teresa Gasalla; Andreja Avbersek; Alexander Thompson; Jack Wright; Jennifer Mellor; Anna Scowcroft Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2022-07-04 Impact factor: 4.086