OBJECTIVE: To develop a reliable and valid clinical scale measuring the severity of ataxia. METHODS: The authors devised the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) and tested it in two trials of 167 and 119 patients with spinocerebellar ataxia. RESULTS: The mean time to administer SARA in patients was 14.2 +/- 7.5 minutes (range 5 to 40). Interrater reliability was high, with an intraclass coefficient (ICC) of 0.98. Test-retest reliability was high with an ICC of 0.90. Internal consistency was high as indicated by Cronbach's alpha of 0.94. Factorial analysis revealed that the rating results were determined by a single factor. SARA ratings showed a linear relation to global assessments using a visual analogue scale, suggesting linearity of the scale (p < 0.0001, r(2) = 0.98). SARA score increased with the disease stage (p < 0.001) and was closely correlated with the Barthel Index (r = -0.80, p < 0.001) and part IV (functional assessment) of the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS-IV) (r = -0.89, p < 0.0001), whereas it had only a weak correlation with disease duration (r = 0.34, p < 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: The Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia is a reliable and valid measure of ataxia, making it an appropriate primary outcome measure for clinical trials.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To develop a reliable and valid clinical scale measuring the severity of ataxia. METHODS: The authors devised the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) and tested it in two trials of 167 and 119 patients with spinocerebellar ataxia. RESULTS: The mean time to administer SARA in patients was 14.2 +/- 7.5 minutes (range 5 to 40). Interrater reliability was high, with an intraclass coefficient (ICC) of 0.98. Test-retest reliability was high with an ICC of 0.90. Internal consistency was high as indicated by Cronbach's alpha of 0.94. Factorial analysis revealed that the rating results were determined by a single factor. SARA ratings showed a linear relation to global assessments using a visual analogue scale, suggesting linearity of the scale (p < 0.0001, r(2) = 0.98). SARA score increased with the disease stage (p < 0.001) and was closely correlated with the Barthel Index (r = -0.80, p < 0.001) and part IV (functional assessment) of the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS-IV) (r = -0.89, p < 0.0001), whereas it had only a weak correlation with disease duration (r = 0.34, p < 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: The Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia is a reliable and valid measure of ataxia, making it an appropriate primary outcome measure for clinical trials.
Authors: Pedro Braga-Neto; Lívia Almeida Dutra; José Luiz Pedroso; André C Felício; Helena Alessi; Ruth F Santos-Galduroz; Paulo Henrique F Bertolucci; Mário Luiz V Castiglioni; Rodrigo Affonseca Bressan; Griselda Esther Jara de Garrido; Orlando Graziani Povoas Barsottini; Andrea Jackowski Journal: Cerebellum Date: 2012-12 Impact factor: 3.847
Authors: H Jacobi; P Bauer; P Giunti; R Labrum; M G Sweeney; P Charles; A Dürr; C Marelli; C Globas; C Linnemann; L Schöls; M Rakowicz; R Rola; E Zdzienicka; T Schmitz-Hübsch; R Fancellu; C Mariotti; C Tomasello; L Baliko; B Melegh; A Filla; C Rinaldi; B P van de Warrenburg; C C P Verstappen; S Szymanski; J Berciano; J Infante; D Timmann; S Boesch; S Hering; C Depondt; M Pandolfo; J-S Kang; S Ratzka; J Schulz; S Tezenas du Montcel; T Klockgether Journal: Neurology Date: 2011-08-10 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: M L Mandelli; T De Simone; L Minati; M G Bruzzone; C Mariotti; R Fancellu; M Savoiardo; M Grisoli Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2007 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: H Jacobi; M Rakowicz; R Rola; R Fancellu; C Mariotti; P Charles; A Dürr; M Küper; D Timmann; C Linnemann; L Schöls; O Kaut; C Schaub; A Filla; L Baliko; B Melegh; J-S Kang; P Giunti; B P C van de Warrenburg; R Fimmers; T Klockgether Journal: Cerebellum Date: 2013-06 Impact factor: 3.847