Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42081229›Full record

SynthesisJAMA neurology2026

Phenoconversion in Pure Autonomic Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Sasivimol Virameteekul, Ilenia Bonini, Nicole Campese, Philipp Mahlknecht, Manuela Tan, Werner Poewe, Alastair J Noyce, Alessandra Fanciulli, Eduardo de Pablo-Fernández

Erratum issuedAbstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in JAMA neurology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Sasivimol VirameteekulCentre for Preventive Neurology, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
Ilenia BoniniDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Nicole CampeseDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Philipp MahlknechtDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Manuela TanDepartment of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Werner PoeweDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Alastair J NoyceCentre for Preventive Neurology, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
Alessandra FanciulliDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Eduardo de Pablo-FernándezCentre for Preventive Neurology, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Importance: Pure autonomic failure (PAF) can be the prodromal presentation of Parkinson disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA), although phenoconversion rates and predictors have not been systematically reported. Objective: To estimate phenoconversion rates for MSA, PD, and DLB separately and grouped as central α-synucleinopathies and identify clinical predictors of phenoconversion in patients with PAF. Data Sources: PubMed and Embase databases from inception to June 2025. Study Selection: Longitudinal studies including patients with confirmed PAF reporting data on incidence and/or predictors of phenoconversion. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Studies were screened and data extracted by 2 independent investigators according to PRISMA guidelines. A meta-analysis was performed using generic inverse-variance random-effects models. Main Outcomes and Measures: PD, DLB, MSA, and central α-synucleinopathy phenoconversion incidence rates as per 100 person-years were the main outcomes. Incidence rates were log transformed and pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis. Clinical predictors of phenoconversion were reported as secondary outcomes. Prediction intervals and meta-regression explored study-level moderators. Results: A total of 9 studies comprising 900 individuals with PAF (mean [SD] age at onset, 63.1 [4.3] years; 63.8% male) were included. During the mean (SD) 6.4 (2.0) years of follow-up, 270 of 900 individuals with PAF (30%) experienced phenoconversion to a central α-synucleinopathy (12% to MSA, 11% to DLB, 7% to PD) with a pooled incidence rate of 5.09 per 100 person-years (95% CI, 3.79-6.85; approximately 5% per year). Phenoconversion rates for MSA (pooled incidence rate, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.29-2.99) were highest in the first years of follow-up, whereas Lewy body disorders showed more constant phenoconversion rates (DLB pooled incidence rate, 1.56; 95% CI, 0.94-2.61; PD pooled incidence rate, 1.35; 95% CI, 0.75-2.41). Hyposmia was the only predictor with diagnostic value to distinguish between those with phenoconversion to PD and DLB (hyposmia pooled risk ratio, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.26-2.97) and MSA, although rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and subtle motor signs were consistent predictors of phenoconversion to any central α-synucleinopathy. Heterogeneity was partly explained by follow-up duration. Conclusions and Relevance: Findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that PAF may be a prodromal presentation of PD, DLB, or MSA with phenoconversion incidence rates similar to those of RBD. A combination of clinical (RBD, subtle motor signs, hyposmia) and in-development biomarkers may help refine the phenoconversion trajectories of people with PAF providing an invaluable opportunity for early diagnosis and intervention.

Indexed as

Lewy Body DiseaseMultiple System AtrophyParkinson DiseaseProdromal SymptomsPure Autonomic FailureHumansSynucleinopathies

Identifiers

PMID42081229
PMCPMC13140091

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.