Document Detail


Late-onset Friedreich ataxia: phenotypic analysis, magnetic resonance imaging findings, and review of the literature.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16344344     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Friedreich ataxia (FA), the most common hereditary ataxia, is caused by pathological expansion of GAA repeats in the first intron of the X25 gene on chromosome 9. Since the discovery of the gene, atypical features are increasingly recognized in individuals with FA, and up to 25% of patients with recessive or sporadic ataxia do not fulfill the Harding or Quebec Cooperative Study on Friedreich's Ataxia criteria for FA. Late-onset FA (LOFA) is defined as onset after age 25 years. OBJECTIVES: To describe and further delineate the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings in patients with LOFA and to review the literature. DESIGN: Clinical evaluation and comparison of clinical data and investigations. SETTING: Ataxia clinics at UCLA and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. PATIENTS: Thirteen patients with LOFA with 13 sex-matched and Inherited Ataxia Progression Scale-matched patients with typical FA. RESULTS: Gait and limb ataxias were seen in all the participants. Dysarthria, loss of vibration sense, and abnormal eye movements were also common in both groups. Patients with LOFA more often had lower limb spasticity (40% vs 0%; chi2 = 4.0; P = .04) and retained reflexes (46.1% vs 7.7%; chi2 = 3.46; P = .05). They had no complaint of sphincter disturbances, and there was no evidence of cardiomyopathy on echocardiograms (chi2 = 4.0; P = .04). Five of 9 patients with LOFA had cerebellar atrophy on neuroimaging. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with gait and limb ataxias, dysarthria, loss of vibration sense, and fixational instability after age 25 years should be considered for molecular testing for GAA expansion in the FA gene. In contrast to previous studies, cerebellar vermian atrophy is not an uncommon finding.
Authors:
Roongroj Bhidayasiri; Susan L Perlman; Stefan-M Pulst; Daniel H Geschwind
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Archives of neurology     Volume:  62     ISSN:  0003-9942     ISO Abbreviation:  Arch. Neurol.     Publication Date:  2005 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2005-12-13     Completed Date:  2006-01-20     Revised Date:  2007-11-14    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0372436     Medline TA:  Arch Neurol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1865-9     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, Calif, USA. rbh@ucla.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Age of Onset
Aged
Atrophy / etiology,  pathology,  physiopathology
Brain / pathology,  physiopathology*
Brain Stem / pathology,  physiopathology
Cerebellum / pathology,  physiopathology
Female
Friedreich Ataxia / epidemiology,  pathology,  physiopathology*
Gait Ataxia / etiology,  pathology,  physiopathology
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Muscle Spasticity / etiology,  pathology,  physiopathology
Neural Conduction / physiology
Peripheral Nerves / pathology,  physiopathology*
Phenotype
Reflex, Abnormal / physiology
Retrospective Studies
Somatosensory Disorders / etiology,  pathology,  physiopathology
Spinal Cord / pathology,  physiopathology*
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
R01 NS33123/NS/NINDS NIH HHS

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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