An autopsy case of Shy-Drager syndrome preceded by a urinary disturbance for over 20 years

An autopsy case of Shy-Drager syndrome preceded by urinary disturbance for over 20 years was reported. A 43-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of urinary disturbance and orthostatic hypotension. At the age of 19 she developed urinary disturbance with polyuria and retention. These symptoms were getting worse with years, and at the age of 33 she was diagnosed to have neurogenic bladder of uninhibited type. During her hospital course her symptom became worse, and by the age of 42 she showed marked dysarthria, disturbance of smooth pursuit eye movement, Horner's syndrome, marked rigidity and tremor of four extremities, generalized hyperreflexia, marked limb and truncal ataxia, neurogenic bladder and orthostatic hypotension. Serial brain CT scan revealed progressive brain stem and cerebellar atrophy with clinical course. Severe autonomic nervous system dysfunctions were also documented. She died of respiratory failure at the age of 43. On autopsy, brain stem and cerebellum showed marked atrophy macroscopically. Microscopically marked depletion of neuron was seen in the substantia nigra, pontine nuclei, inferior olive, Purkinje cells, the intermediolateral column of spinal cord and Onuf's nucleus of S2. Although numerous cases of Shy-Drager syndrome have been reported in the past, there is no case which developed this syndrome after urinary disturbance of over 20 year's duration. We should be alert to observe the cases with longstanding urinary disturbances in order to not overlook degenerative disorders as exemplified in this case.