Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0004134 (ataxia)
 15,886 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A 35-year-old female was reported who presented early onset and slowly progressive ataxia and retrocollis which appeared at the age of nine. On admission, neurological examination revealed cerebellar ataxia, dystonia of the neck and the right arm, myoclonus of the neck and the shoulder, slight mental retardation, supranuclear upper gaze palsy, and sensorineural hearing loss. Laboratory examination showed high serum CK activity. Electromyography and muscle biopsy findings suggested slight muscular involvement. CSF level of HVA and 5-HIAA were reduced. MRI demonstrated marked cerebellar atrophy and slight atrophy of the brain stem. To our knowledge, the characteristic combination of the neurological sign in this case has not been reported. This case was compared with EOCA (early onset cerebellar ataxia with retained tendon reflexes) and other juvenile onset cerebellar ataxia and dystonia.
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PMID:[A case of juvenile onset ataxia with dystonia, myoclonus, sensorineural hearing loss and mental retardation]. 826 7

The aim of the present study was (i) to compare disease progression and survival in different types of degenerative ataxia, and (ii) to identify variables that may modify the rate of disease progression. We included patients suffering from Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA, n = 83), early onset cerebellar ataxia (EOCA, n = 30), autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia (ADCA) type I (ADCA-I, n = 273), ADCA-III (n = 13) and multiple system atrophy (MSA, n = 67). Molecular genetic testing allowed us to assign 202 ADCA-I patients to one of the following subgroups: spinocerebellar ataxia type I (SCAI, n = 36), SCA2 (n = 56) and SCA3 (n = 110). To assess disease progression we defined the following disease stages: stage 0 = no gait difficulties; stage 1 = disease onset, as defined by onset of gait difficulties; stage 2 = loss of independent gait; stage 3 = confinement to wheelchair; stage 4 = death. Disease progression was most rapid in MSA, intermediate in FRDA, ADCA-I and ADCA-III and slowest in EOCA. The rate of progression was similar in SCA1, SCA2 and SCA3. The CAG repeat length was a significant risk factor for faster progression in SCA2 and SCA3, but not in SCA1. In FRDA, the time until confinement to wheelchair was shorter in patients with earlier disease onset, suggesting that patients with long GAA repeats and early disease onset have a poor prognosis. Female gender increased the risk of becoming dependent on walking aids or a wheelchair, but it did not influence survival in FRDA, SCA3 and MSA. In SCA2, female gender was associated with shortened survival. In MSA, later age of onset increased the risk of rapid progression and death.
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PMID:The natural history of degenerative ataxia: a retrospective study in 466 patients. 957 87

Early onset cerebellar ataxia with retained tendon reflexes (EOCA) is a clinical syndrome characterised by progressive cerebellar ataxia with an onset before the age of 25 years and a wide spectrum of associated features. It is distinguished from Friedreich's ataxia (FA) mainly by the preservation of tendon reflexes, a better prognosis, and the absence of GAA expansion in the frataxin gene. Although EOCA is thought to be a hereditary disorder with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance, genetic heterogeneity might underlie the spectrum of clinical features. In this case report we describe a patient with EOCA accompanied by pes cavus, hammer toes and peripheral neuropathy. The patient's father did not have any ataxia, but had the same foot deformities as his daughter and a slight peripheral neuropathy. The possible relationship between these clinical features is discussed.
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PMID:Early onset cerebellar ataxia with retained tendon reflexes: foot deformity in a first grade family member. 1062 55