OBJECTIVE: To define the neurologic characteristics and course of ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional chart study of 57 children (ages 2 to 19 years) followed at an A-T clinic. Cerebellar and extracerebellar symptoms were graded according to degree of functional impairment. Head circumferences were plotted from the charts and z-scores were calculated and compared with that of family members. RESULTS: Ataxia was present in 87.7%, followed by dysarthria (82.1%), dysmetria (75.4%), bradykinesia (69.2%), hyperkinetic movements (58.9%), and dystonia (15.8%). All features aggravated with age. The most striking clinical observation in our patients was low head circumference (z-score below 1), which was present in 60.9%; 17% had true microcephaly (z-score below 2). Microcephaly appeared postnatally, was proportionate to height and weight, and did not correlate with severity of ataxia or genotype. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to cerebellar ataxia, extrapyramidal symptoms, especially bradykinesia, were frequent and disabling. Microcephaly is an integral part of A-T; understanding its pathogenesis may shed light on the mechanism by which ATM mutation causes dysfunction in the nervous system.
OBJECTIVE: To define the neurologic characteristics and course of ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional chart study of 57 children (ages 2 to 19 years) followed at an A-T clinic. Cerebellar and extracerebellar symptoms were graded according to degree of functional impairment. Head circumferences were plotted from the charts and z-scores were calculated and compared with that of family members. RESULTS:Ataxia was present in 87.7%, followed by dysarthria (82.1%), dysmetria (75.4%), bradykinesia (69.2%), hyperkinetic movements (58.9%), and dystonia (15.8%). All features aggravated with age. The most striking clinical observation in our patients was low head circumference (z-score below 1), which was present in 60.9%; 17% had true microcephaly (z-score below 2). Microcephaly appeared postnatally, was proportionate to height and weight, and did not correlate with severity of ataxia or genotype. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to cerebellar ataxia, extrapyramidal symptoms, especially bradykinesia, were frequent and disabling. Microcephaly is an integral part of A-T; understanding its pathogenesis may shed light on the mechanism by which ATM mutation causes dysfunction in the nervous system.
Authors: Stuart Currie; Nigel Hoggard; Matthew J R Clark; David S Sanders; Iain D Wilkinson; Paul D Griffiths; Marios Hadjivassiliou Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-10-15 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Julio Aguado; Harman K Chaggar; Cecilia Gómez-Inclán; Mohammed R Shaker; Hannah C Leeson; Alan Mackay-Sim; Ernst J Wolvetang Journal: Aging Cell Date: 2021-08-30 Impact factor: 9.304
Authors: H Donath; S Woelke; R Schubert; M Kieslich; M Theis; G Auburger; R P Duecker; S Zielen Journal: Cerebellum Date: 2021-04-24 Impact factor: 3.847