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Query: UMLS:C0004134 (ataxia)
 15,886 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The CSF findings in hereditary ataxias and allief disorders have hitherto mostly been reported as normal if one excludes Refsum's syndrome. The CSF-protein patterns found on isoelectric focusing and quantitative paper electrophoresis were studied in 12 patients with hereditary ataxias and hereditary spastic paraplegia. Using a recently-developed technique of isoelectric focusing of CSF-proteins in flat beds of polyacrylamide gel, the authors could show abnormal CSF-protein patterns in all but 1 of the present cases. The aberrant CSF-protein patterns found showed differences between the syndromes studied. Two unique patterns with conspicuous fractions in the acid range were observed in patients with Marie-Sanger-Brown's ataxia (mother and daughter) and Holmes' ataxia. A third CSF-protein pattern was found in a sibship with Friedreich's ataxia including a double fraction in the acid region (pI 5.9-6.1) in all 4 subjects and a highly alkaline fraction (HAF) with pI about 9.3, in 3 of them. Similar acid fractions (pI 5.9-6.1) were also detected in 3 of 4 patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia, a brother and sister showing a very similar CSF-protein pattern. Double fractions with pI 5.9-6.1 and/or HAF may also occur in other neurological diseases, mostly, however, associated with other distinctive features of their CSF-protein patterns. A possibility in the future of distinguishing hereditary CNS-diseases by examination of the CSF-protein pattern is suggested.
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PMID:Protein patterns of cerebrospinal fluid in hereditary ataxias and hereditary spastic paraplegia. 4 1

The author reports of 2 cases (sisters of 13 and 15 years old) with the Refsum syndrome. The disease had its onset at the age of 12 and 5 years with a progressive development and remissions. The clinical picture was characterized by a recurrent syndrome of polyradiculoneurites with a slight protein cellular dissociation in the CSF, an expressed sensitive ataxia with elements of cerebellar disorders, a drop in the acuity of sight, audition, intellectual level and a deformation of the talipes of the Friedreich type. In a single examination of fatty acids in the blood serum by the method of gas chromotography there were no data pointing to the existence of 3, 7, 11, 15-tetra metylhexadecone acids. On the basis of an immunological study the author discusses the role of autoimmune reactions in the pathogenesis of the diseases. A differential diagnosis was conducted between acanthocytosis and porphyria with recommendations in regard to treatment.
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PMID:[Clinical picture and pathogenesis of the Refsum syndrome]. 7 Sep 17

Five cases of heredopathia atactica polyneuritiformis (HAP--Refsum's disease) were treated by serial plasma exchanges. In all patients a reduction in calorie intake and body weight had been associated with a rise in plasma phytanic acid, followed by an exacerbation of the ataxia and neuropathy. Lowering the plasma phytanic acid by plasma exchange produced a rapid clinical improvement. The main indication for plasma exchange in HAP is a severe or rapidly worsening clinical condition. A lesser indication is failure of dietary management to reduce a high plasma phytanic acid level.
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PMID:Plasma exchange in the treatment of Refsum's disease (heredopathia atactica polyneuritiformis). 171 65

An own observation of Refsum's disease is described. The female patient of 39 presented all characteristic symptoms of the disease, which had developed progressively starting at the age of 25: atypical retinitis pigmentosa with nightblindness and concentric constriction of the visual fields, cataracts, peripheral polyneuropathy with reduced nerve conduction velocity, ataxia, high protein level in CSF, ichthyosis-like cutaneous manifestations, sceletal anomalies, progressive sensorineural deafness, anosmia. Refsum's disease is a metabolic disorder based on an inborn enzyme defect, inherited by autosomal recessive transmission. It causes storage of phytanic acid in the body. Treatment consists in diet low in phytol and phytanic acid as well as large volume plasma exchanges.
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PMID:[Refsum syndrome, heredopathia atactica polyneuritiformis in the view of the otolaryngologist (author's transl)]. 616 93

Heredopathia atactica polyneuritiformis (phytanic-acid storage disease, Refsum's disease) is an inborn error of metabolism, in which the body accumulates exogenous phytanic acid. The severe manifestations of this disease, which include pigmentary retinal degeneration, chronic polyneuropathy, ataxia, impaired hearing, and cardiopathy, can be either kept from worsening or reversed by elimination of foods rich in phytanic acid from patients' diets. This is borne out by a 20-year experience with two patients, whose conditions improved markedly once they stopped eating butter, animal fat, and other foods rich in phytanic acid.
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PMID:Heredopathia atactica polyneuritiformis phytanic-acid storage disease, Refsum's disease:" a biochemically well-defined disease with a specific dietary treatment. 617 Feb 81

The clinical features of four patients with retinitis pigmentosa, ataxia and peripheral neuropathy but with no increase in serum phytanic acid are reported. Three patients also had sensorineural deafness and radiological evidence of cerebellar atrophy. Nerve conduction studies revealed abnormalities of sensory conduction and normal or only mild slowing of motor conduction velocity. Sural nerve biopsy demonstrated a reduction in the density of myelinated fibres. There were no onion bulb formations. These cases clinically resemble Refsum's disease, but differ in having no detectable biochemical abnormality, and a peripheral neuropathy which is not hypertrophic in type. They may represent unusual cases of spinocerebellar degeneration.
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PMID:Retinitis pigmentosa, ataxia, and peripheral neuropathy. 630 25

A patient with aosmia and night blindness had repeated clinical and electrophysiological examinations during a 21-year period. Within the first 11 years, he experienced two subacute episodes of numbness with weakness and ataxia. Over the 10 ensuing years, no additional functional disability appeared. We looked retrospectively for a correlation between repeated manual muscle scoring and different nerve conduction parameters. Further studies were done in order to estimate reinnervation in proximal and distal muscles and to assess autonomic functions. A direct relationship was found between the magnitude of muscle weakness and the amplitude of compound muscle action potentials, whereas nerve conduction velocities were inhomogeneously reduced but almost unchanged over time. Parasympathetic tests were normal but sympathetic skin responses were absent. As estimated by macro-EMG and turns-amplitude analysis the compensatory reinnervation was very high. We conclude that, in Refsum's disease, recurrent segmental demyelination of a significant portion of the motor units can occur in parallel with exacerbations of weakness, and that a considerable degree of progressive motor and sudoromotor axonal loss can be found although there is an apparent long-term clinical stabilization of the neuropathy.
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PMID:Quantitative EMG analysis and longitudinal nerve conduction studies in a Refsum's disease patient. 768 25

Refsum's disease, firstly described almost 50 years ago by the Norvegian neurologist Sigvald Refsum, is an autosomic recessive disease affecting mostly the Scandinavians and the populations originating from Northern Europe. The disease results from a specific enzyme deficiency of the first step of phytanic acid catabolism pathway. This deficiency leads to an accumulation of this C20 fatty acid in the serum and the tissues with a preference for adipose tissue, liver and kidneys. The clinical picture includes retinitis pigmentosa, peripheral neuropathy, ataxia and elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein concentration. Other less frequent manifestations include cranial nerves deficiency, myocardiopathy, renal tubular dysfunction and ichtyosis. The diagnosis relies on serum phytanic acid measurement. The treatment consists of a phytanic-acid free diet sometimes associated with plasmapheresis. This treatment is generally effective on neuropathy but not on cranial nerves dysfunction and retinitis pigmentosa.
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PMID:[Refsum disease]. 876 99

Refsum's disease is an autosomal recessive disease caused by defective alpha-oxidation of phytanic acid. The usual clinical presentation is the association of retinitis pigmentosa, ataxia and chronic severe sensorimotor polyneuropathy. A case of mild purely sensory neuropathy in a 40-year-old patient associated to high CSF protein level led to the diagnosis of Refsum's disease. The paucity of sensory symptoms and signs of neuropathy contrasted with severe reduction of motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities and markedly signs of sensory neuropathy observed in the nerve biopsy. Typical ring-scotomas, retinitis pigmentosa, anosmia, deafness, and high plasma phytanic acid level were present in extensive examination. There was no other case in the family.
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PMID:[Pauci-symptomatic sensory polyneuropathy in Refsum's disease]. 894 45

Refsum's disease, or heredopathia atactica polyneuritiformis, is a peroxisomal disorder leading to the accumulation of phytanic acid throughout the body. It affects sensory and motor neurons and the skeletal system. Peripheral neuropathy, ataxia, blindness, deafness, and skeletal hyperostosis are significant findings used in the diagnosis of the disease.
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PMID:Refsum's disease. A unique case. 973 28


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