• Anita Madan and Mya C Schiess.
• University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA. anita.madan@uth.tmc.edu
• Neuromodulation. 2011 Mar 1; 14 (2): 176-7; discussion 178.

ObjectivesEvaluate the benefit of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy on function, quality of life, and progression in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA).MethodsWe report on three MSA patients at different stages treated with ITB therapy. MSA patients were staged using Watanabe et al. ADL milestones for disease progression and by scales for tone (modified Ashworth scale) ambulation (Hauser ambulation index) and disability (expanded disability status scale)ResultsAll three patients had an improvement in the modified Ashworth scale and none had progression in their disability or ambulatory outcomes and did not progress as predicted by Watanabe et al.ConclusionsOur results suggest that ITB can maintain (or improve function) and maintain quality of life in patients with MSA. ITB is currently not indicated for patients with MSA but should be studied further for the quality of life benefits and delay in disease progression it potentially provides.© 2011 International Neuromodulation Society.

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