Ataxia

Last updated: Monday, 26, July, 2010
CausesAppropriate Tests

Multiple sclerosis 

Alcoholism, including 

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome 

Post-traumatic 

Sensory 

Polyneuropathy  

See under Neuropathy.

Posterior column disorders

  • Tumour 
  • Cervical spondylosis 
  • Subacute combined degeneration 

See under Vitamin B12 Deficiency.

  • Tabes dorsalis 

See under Syphilis.

Cerebellar 

Infarct 

Cerebellitis 

Tumour 

Paraneoplastic degeneration 

Purkinje cell (YO) antibodies.

Genetic 

Spinocerebellar ataxias 

Autosomal dominant disorders - Molecular genetics.

Friedreich's ataxia 

Molecular genetics,

Mitochondrial disorders  

Hyperammonaemia 

Organic acidaemias especially

  • Glutaric aciduria type I 

Adrenomyeloneuropathy 

Very long chain fatty acids.

Refsum disease 

Phytanate.

Lysosomal storage diseases 

Juvenile and adult forms.

Wilson's disease 

Ataxia telangiectasia 

Alpha fetoprotein - serum; molecular genetics, if available.

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome 

Abetalipoproteinaemia

Apolipoprotein B; vitamin E.

Tocopherol transfer protein deficiency 

Vitamin E.