UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Diagnosis and management of progressive ataxia in adults

de Silva, RN; Vallortigara, J; Greenfield, J; Hunt, B; Giunti, P; Hadjivassiliou, M; (2019) Diagnosis and management of progressive ataxia in adults. Practical Neurology , 19 (3) pp. 196-207. 10.1136/practneurol-2018-002096. Green open access

[thumbnail of Giunti_Diagnosis and management of progressive ataxia in adults_VoR.pdf]
Preview
Text
Giunti_Diagnosis and management of progressive ataxia in adults_VoR.pdf - Published Version

Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Progressive ataxia in adults can be difficult to diagnose, owing to its heterogeneity and the rarity of individual causes. Many patients remain undiagnosed (‘idiopathic’ ataxia). This paper provides suggested diagnostic pathways for the general neurologist, based on Ataxia UK’s guidelines for professionals. MR brain scanning can provide diagnostic clues, as well as identify ‘structural’ causes such as tumours and multiple sclerosis. Advances in molecular genetics, including the wider and cheaper availability of ‘next-generation sequencing’, have enabled clinicians to identify many more cases with a genetic cause. Finally, autoimmunity is probably an under-recognised cause of progressive ataxia: as well as patients with antigliadin antibodies there are smaller numbers with various antibodies, including some associated with cancer. There are a few treatable ataxias, but also symptomatic treatments to help people with the spectrum of complications that might accompany progressive ataxias. Multidisciplinary team involvement and allied health professionals’ input are critical to excellent patient care, including in the palliative phase. We can no longer justify a nihilistic approach to the management of ataxia.

Type: Article
Title: Diagnosis and management of progressive ataxia in adults
Location: England
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1136/practneurol-2018-002096
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/practneurol-2018-002096
Language: English
Additional information: © Author(s) (or their employer[s]) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ. This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology > Clinical and Movement Neurosciences
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10075252
Downloads since deposit
77Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item