Biomaterial Database

Electroencephalographic findings in Friedreich's ataxia. 1976

G Remillard, and F Andermann, and L Blitzer, and E Andermann

Electroencephalographic tracings of 50 patients who presented the classical features of Friedreich's ataxia were reviewed. Mild nonspecific abnormalities were found in 33% and consisted of: a) Abnormal slow or irregular background rhythms in 15 patients (30%). b) Intermittent paroxysmal rhythms, considered to be projected from diencephalic or upper midbrain structures, in 4 patients (8%). c) Unilaterally absent driving responses in 2 affected siblings (4%). There was no response to intermittent photic stimulation in 60% of the patients. This finding is not considered a definite abnormality, and its significance remains unclear. Four patients (8%) had epileptic seizures, but of these only two had interictal epileptic abnormalities. There was no correlation between the duration and severity of the disease and the presence of electroencephalographic abnormalities. Friedreich's ataxia is mainly a spinal disorder. Involvement of supraspinal and in particular brain stem or diencephalic structures may be more extensive in those patients who show electrographic abnormalities. This would require confirmation with comparative data based on pathological observations. Impaired function of brain stem inhibitory mechanism may be responsible for the slightly raised incidence of seizures in patients with Friedreich's ataxia and other cerebellar degenerations.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009207	Myoclonus	Involuntary shock-like contractions, irregular in rhythm and amplitude, followed by relaxation, of a muscle or a group of muscles. This condition may be a feature of some CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES; (e.g., EPILEPSY, MYOCLONIC). Nocturnal myoclonus is the principal feature of the NOCTURNAL MYOCLONUS SYNDROME. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp102-3).	Myoclonus, Action,Myoclonus, Nocturnal,Myoclonus, Palatal,Polymyoclonus,Myoclonic Jerk,Myoclonic Jerking,Myoclonus Simplex,Myoclonus, Eyelid,Myoclonus, Intention,Myoclonus, Lower Extremity,Myoclonus, Oculopalatal,Myoclonus, Segmental,Myoclonus, Sleep,Myoclonus, Upper Extremity,Action Myoclonus,Extremity Myoclonus, Lower,Extremity Myoclonus, Upper,Eyelid Myoclonus,Intention Myoclonus,Jerk, Myoclonic,Jerking, Myoclonic,Jerks, Myoclonic,Lower Extremity Myoclonus,Myoclonic Jerks,Nocturnal Myoclonus,Oculopalatal Myoclonus,Palatal Myoclonus,Segmental Myoclonus,Simplex, Myoclonus,Sleep Myoclonus,Upper Extremity Myoclonus
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D004569	Electroencephalography	Recording of electric currents developed in the brain by means of electrodes applied to the scalp, to the surface of the brain, or placed within the substance of the brain.	EEG,Electroencephalogram,Electroencephalograms
D005260	Female		Females
D005621	Friedreich Ataxia	An autosomal recessive disease, usually of childhood onset, characterized pathologically by degeneration of the spinocerebellar tracts, posterior columns, and to a lesser extent the corticospinal tracts. Clinical manifestations include GAIT ATAXIA, pes cavus, speech impairment, lateral curvature of spine, rhythmic head tremor, kyphoscoliosis, congestive heart failure (secondary to a cardiomyopathy), and lower extremity weakness. Most forms of this condition are associated with a mutation in a gene on chromosome 9, at band q13, which codes for the mitochondrial protein frataxin. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1081; N Engl J Med 1996 Oct 17;335(16):1169-75) The severity of Friedreich ataxia associated with expansion of GAA repeats in the first intron of the frataxin gene correlates with the number of trinucleotide repeats. (From Durr et al, N Engl J Med 1996 Oct 17;335(16):1169-75)	Friedreich Disease,Hereditary Spinal Sclerosis,Sclerosis, Hereditary Spinal,Friedreich Familial Ataxia,Friedreich Hereditary Ataxia,Friedreich Hereditary Spinal Ataxia,Friedreich Spinocerebellar Ataxia,Friedreich's Ataxia,Friedreich's Disease,Friedreich's Familial Ataxia,Friedreich's Hereditary Ataxia,Friedreich's Hereditary Spinal Ataxia,Hereditary Spinal Ataxia, Friedreich,Hereditary Spinal Ataxia, Friedreich's,Ataxia, Friedreich,Ataxia, Friedreich Familial,Ataxia, Friedreich Hereditary,Ataxia, Friedreich Spinocerebellar,Ataxia, Friedreich's,Ataxia, Friedreich's Familial,Ataxia, Friedreich's Hereditary,Ataxias, Friedreich,Ataxias, Friedreich's Hereditary,Disease, Friedreich,Disease, Friedreich's,Familial Ataxia, Friedreich,Familial Ataxia, Friedreich's,Friedreich Ataxias,Friedreich's Hereditary Ataxias,Friedreichs Familial Ataxia,Friedreichs Hereditary Ataxia,Hereditary Ataxia, Friedreich,Hereditary Ataxia, Friedreich's,Hereditary Ataxias, Friedreich's,Hereditary Spinal Scleroses,Scleroses, Hereditary Spinal,Spinal Scleroses, Hereditary,Spinal Sclerosis, Hereditary,Spinocerebellar Ataxia, Friedreich
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults