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Section VI. Movement Disorders

AW
by Angi W.

A 60-year-old woman presents with a 2-month history of rap-

idly progressive clumsy speech, unsteady gait, limb incoordina-

tion, vertigo, and nausea. She needs consistent use of a

wheelchair. Clinical examination findings are of a moderately

severe pancerebellar ataxia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging

shows cerebellar atrophy without abnormal enhancement.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shows a normal cell count but 7 oligo-

clonal bands (upper limit of normal, 4 bands) and is otherwise

negative for bacterial, viral, or fungal tests. The patient believes

her cancer screens are up to date, and she has no known his-

tory of malignancy. Several tests were ordered. Which of the

following is the most likely laboratory abnormality?

a. Serum and CSF paraneoplastic panel

b. Visual evoked responses

c. Genetic testing

d. Vitamin E level

e. Inborn errors of metabolism

22 Answer a.

The clinical scenario is highly suspicious for a paraneo-

plastic cerebellar ataxia, given the rapidly progressive and

disabling course in an otherwise healthy patient. The

increased number of oligoclonal bands in CSF raises suspi-

cion for an inflammatory cause. However, the lack of white

matter abnormalities and focal cerebellar atrophy makes

multiple sclerosis unlikely, and thus, visual evoked

responses will probably be normal. Infectious causes are

unlikely given the lack of astructural infectious lesions (eg,

abscess) and the negative CSF testing. Genetic ataxias are

classically slowly progressive in late life, whereas inborn

errors of metabolism usually manifest in childhood

VI.23. A 16-year-old girl presents with clumsiness and constant falls.

These symptoms have progressively worsened during the past

several months. On physical examination, she has upper- and

lower-extremity limb ataxia, with an absence of patellar and

ankle deep tendon reflexes. The patient has a deficit on posi-

tion and vibration sense, with intact pain and temperature sen-

sation. Kyphoscoliosis is appreciated on examination. Magnetic

resonance imaging of the brain and spine does not show cere-

bellar atrophy but atrophy in the spinal cord and medulla.

Friedreich ataxia is suspected. Which of the following is correct

about Friedreich ataxia?

a. Friedreich ataxia is the most common autosomal dominant

hereditary ataxia

b. It is caused by an unstable expansion of a trinucleotide CAG trip-

let repeat of the frataxin gene

c. Nerve conduction studies have shown reduced or absent com-

pound motor action potentials, consistent with axonal motor

neuropathy, and normal sensory nerve action potentials

d. Cerebellar atrophy is present in Friedreich ataxia

e. The most common cause of death in Friedreich ataxia is cardiac

complications


23 Answer e.

Friedreich ataxia is the most common autosomal recessive

hereditary ataxia, caused by an unstable expansion of a tri-

nucleotide GAA triplet repeat of the frataxin gene. Nerve

conduction studies have shown reduced or absent sensory

nerve action potentials consistent with sensory neuropa-

thy and normal compound motor action potentials. There

is no cerebellar atrophy, but atrophy of the spinal cord is

present.


Author

Angi W.

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