Disease modifying treatment available:
Time critical diagnosis and management:
Lateralising:
| Supercategory | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ataxia |
| Disorder | Clinical features | Associated features | Investigations | Disease modifying treatment available | Time critical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis |
Dementia Xanthomas |
||||
| Coenzyme Q10 deficiency |
Myopathy Nephrotic syndrome Visual loss |
||||
| Gluten ataxia | |||||
| Vitamin B12 deficiency |
Megaloblastic anaemia Optic neuropathy |
||||
| Vitamin E deficiency |
Dementia |
||||
| Niemann-Pick type C |
Hallucination |
Narcolepsy |
|||
| Dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy |
Seizure Myoclonus Dementia Chorea Huntington’s disease phenocopies |
||||
| Subclavian steal syndrome |
Vertigo |
||||
| Ataxia telangiectasia |
Telangiectasia |
||||
| Anti-CASPR2 encephalitis |
Myokymia Seizure Generalised pain Insomnia Weight loss Hyperhidrosis Psychosis Amnesia |
Thymoma Anti-LGI1 encephalitis |
|||
| Vertebral artery dissection |
Neck pain |
||||
| Myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers |
Epilepsy Myoclonic seizure Dementia Sensorineural hearing loss Optic neuropathy Generalized tonic-clonic seizure Atonic seizure Absence seizure Proximal muscle weakness Short stature Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome |
The management of cerebellar ataxia currently is primarily supportive. In some cases a treatable underlying aetiology can be identified so consideration should be given to the possibility of these disorders in all cases despite their rarity. A review of drugs should be undertaken to identify agents that could be causing symptomatic deterioration. If ataxia improves following discontinuation of a medication a yellow card should be submitted reporting the possible adverse reaction. Individuals should be made aware alcohol may worsen their ataxia.
Aids for walking, eating, drinking and speech may be helpful.
Physiotherapy and SALT may be helpful.