Very late-onset Friedreich's ataxia with rapid course mimicking as possible multiple system atrophy cerebellar type. 2021

Tushar Ashok Vidhale, and Hemant R Gupta, and Rohan Pj, and Charmi Gandhi
Department of Medicine, Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India tusharvidhale@hotmail.com.

This 55-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with an insidious onset, progressive backward fall (due to severe truncal ataxia), dysarthria, stiffness in extremities, distal dominant muscle wasting along with behavioural changes and urinary incontinence. Clinical assessment indicated mild cognitive decline (Mini-Mental State Examination 22/27) with cerebellar, pyramidal and peripheral nerves involvement. On investigations, nerve conduction studies revealed symmetrical, sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy affecting both lower limbs. Brain and whole spine MRI revealed widespread cerebral and mild cerebellar atrophy, pons and medulla volume loss, and a normal spinal cord. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed concentric left ventricular hypertrophy. His gene analysis revealed eight GAA repeats on allele 1, and 37 GAA repeats on allele 2 in the first intron of the frataxin gene. Considering his clinical profile and genetic analysis, he was diagnosed as a case of very late-onset Friedreich's ataxia with likely compound heterozygous genotype.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D002531 Cerebellum The part of brain that lies behind the BRAIN STEM in the posterior base of skull (CRANIAL FOSSA, POSTERIOR). It is also known as the "little brain" with convolutions similar to those of CEREBRAL CORTEX, inner white matter, and deep cerebellar nuclei. Its function is to coordinate voluntary movements, maintain balance, and learn motor skills. Cerebella,Corpus Cerebelli,Parencephalon,Cerebellums,Parencephalons
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
D005838 Genotype The genetic constitution of the individual, comprising the ALLELES present at each GENETIC LOCUS. Genogroup,Genogroups,Genotypes
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000483 Alleles Variant forms of the same gene, occupying the same locus on homologous CHROMOSOMES, and governing the variants in production of the same gene product. Allelomorphs,Allele,Allelomorph
D019578 Multiple System Atrophy A syndrome complex composed of three conditions which represent clinical variants of the same disease process: STRIATONIGRAL DEGENERATION; SHY-DRAGER SYNDROME; and the sporadic form of OLIVOPONTOCEREBELLAR ATROPHIES. Clinical features include autonomic, cerebellar, and basal ganglia dysfunction. Pathologic examination reveals atrophy of the basal ganglia, cerebellum, pons, and medulla, with prominent loss of autonomic neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1076; Baillieres Clin Neurol 1997 Apr;6(1):187-204; Med Clin North Am 1999 Mar;83(2):381-92) Multiple System Atrophy Syndrome,Multisystem Atrophy,Multisystemic Atrophy,Atrophies, Multisystem,Atrophies, Multisystemic,Atrophy, Multiple System,Atrophy, Multisystem,Atrophy, Multisystemic,Multiple System Atrophies,Multisystem Atrophies,Multisystemic Atrophies

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