Alterity Therapeutics (ASX:ATH) has announced that a poster presentation from the ongoing Biomarkers of Progression in Multiple System Atrophy (bioMUSE) study was given at the recent American Autonomic Society (AAS) 2022 Annual Conference.
Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that presents with motor and prominent autonomic symptoms.
Major sources of disability in MSA result from motor symptoms characteristic of Parkinson’s disease and impaired ability to maintain normal blood pressure, bowel function and bladder control.
Problems with urination are a common symptom and can occur at any time during the disease process.
The poster – Urinary Symptom Profile in Early Multiple System Atrophy – evaluates patient-reported symptoms utilising the Urinary Symptom Profile (USP) in early MSA.
The USP is a questionnaire that comprehensively assesses stress incontinence, overactive bladder, and urinary obstruction signs and their severity.
“It is important to characterise the impact of urinary symptoms in early MSA, as they can have a profound negative impact on quality of life, even at this stage of illness,” said Alterity Therapeutics CEO Dr David Stamler.
“The USP is a validated rating scale, and the study results suggest that the USP can be used for comprehensive evaluation of urinary complaints in a group of patients similar to those we are studying in Phase 2. BioMuse continues to generate important insights on the symptoms and challenges faced in MSA.”
For the study, the USP was applied to a cohort of early MSA participants (n=16). In addition to completing the USP questionnaire, all participants completed a neurologic examination and were assessed using rating scales for MSA. The USP score was then correlated with the rating scales. In early MSA, the most severe urinary symptoms observed were an overactive bladder, specifically urgency and frequency.
