A diagnostic decision tree for adult cerebellar ataxia based on pontine magnetic resonance imaging.

Cerebellar ataxias (CAs) are heterogeneous conditions often require differential diagnosis. This study aimed to establish a diagnostic decision tree for differentiating CAs based on pontine MRI findings. Two-hundred and two consecutive ataxia patients were clinically classified into 4 groups: (1) spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) with brainstem involvement (SCA-BSI), (2) Pure cerebellar SCA, (3) cerebellar dominant multiple system atrophy (MSA-c), and (4) Other CA. Signal intensity in pons was graded into 3 types: hot cross bun sign (HCBS), pontine midline linear T2-hyperintensity (PMH), or normal. The distance ratio of pontine base to tegmentum, named "BT-ratio", was measured. The presence of HCBS indicated either MSA-c with a specificity of 97.7%, or SCA2. When PMH was observed, a BT-ratio above 3.54 strongly indicated SCA-BSI, namely Machado-Joseph disease, SCA1, or dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy, whereas a BT-ratio below 3.54 indicated MSA-c or SCA2. When the signal intensity was normal, a BT-ratio above 3.52 indicated SCA-BSI, whereas a BT-ratio below 3.52 suggested Pure cerebellar SCA or Other CA with pure cerebellar type. The decision tree was confirmed useful in a different 30 CA patients. We propose that differential diagnosis of CAs can be supported by combining pontine MRI signal intensity changes and BT-ratio.

Comparison of cerebellar ataxias: A three-year prospective longitudinal assessment.

We quantitatively investigated the clinical severity and progression of diseases with ataxia, as measured with the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia, and examined the potential application of the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia for future therapeutic trials. Severity of ataxia was assessed in 238 patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 2, spinocerebellar ataxia type 3, spinocerebellar ataxia type 6, spinocerebellar ataxia type 17, multiple system atrophy-cerebellar variant, or Gerstman-Sträussler-Scheinker disease. Among them, 119 (50%) were longitudinally examined three to seven times, in a period of 8 to 38 months, resulting in a total set of 535 assessments. The differences between spinocerebellar ataxia and multiple system atrophy-cerebellar variant were ascertained cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Gerstman-Sträussler-Scheinker disease had the fastest progression, followed by multiple system atrophy-cerebellar variant, spinocerebellar ataxia type 17, spinocerebellar ataxia type 3, spinocerebellar ataxia type 2, and spinocerebellar ataxia type 6. Patients with multiple system atrophy-cerebellar variant had a faster progression in gait, sitting, speech, and total score than patients with spinocerebellar ataxias. For a randomized, case-control trial, a sample size of 47 for spinocerebellar ataxia and 85 for multiple system atrophy-cerebellar variant in the treatment or placebo arms would have a sufficient statistical power to demonstrate the efficacy of a new therapy that would retard ataxia progression by 1 point per year as measured by the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia. The results will have a significant impact on the planning and implementation of future therapeutic trials of spinocerebellar ataxia and multiple system atrophy-cerebellar variant.

Translation and validation into Brazilian version of the Scale of the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA).

UNLABELLED: The hereditary ataxias comprise a very large spectrum of genetically determined neurodegenerative disorders with progressive ataxia as the prominent symptom. In order to measure the severity of cerebellar ataxia in an easier and more practical way, it was proposed a new scale: the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA). The objective of this study was to translate and validate SARA into Brazilian Portuguese. METHOD: The SARA was translated into Brazilian Portuguese, analyzed, back translated to English, and compared to the original version. It was applied to 30 patients. In addition to SARA, we applied the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) in all subjects. RESULTS: SARA scale was translated into Brazilian version with adequate internal consistence, but a significant correlation between ICARS and SARA was not found. CONCLUSION: SARA was translated and validated into Brazilian Portuguese language, showing good reliability and validity.

Translation and validation into Brazilian version of the Scale of the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) / Tradução e validação da escala para avaliação e graduação de ataxia (SARA) para versão brasileira

The hereditary ataxias comprise a very large spectrum of genetically determined neurodegenerative disorders with progressive ataxia as the prominent symptom. In order to measure the severity of cerebellar ataxia in an easier and more practical way, it was proposed a new scale: the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA). The objective of this study was to translate and validate SARA into Brazilian Portuguese. METHOD: The SARA was translated into Brazilian Portuguese, analyzed, back translated to English, and compared to the original version. It was applied to 30 patients. In addition to SARA, we applied the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) in all subjects. RESULTS: SARA scale was translated into Brazilian version with adequate internal consistence, but a significant correlation between ICARS and SARA was not found. CONCLUSION: SARA was translated and validated into Brazilian Portuguese language, showing good reliability and validity.

As ataxias hereditárias compreendem grande espectro de doenças neurodegenerativas geneticamente determinadas, tendo como sintoma preponderante a ataxia de instalação progressiva. No sentido de avaliar a gravidade da ataxia cerebelar através de forma mais fácil e prática, foi proposta uma nova escala: a Escala para Avaliação e Graduação de Ataxia (SARA). O objetivo deste estudo foi traduzir e validar a SARA para o português brasileiro. MÉTODO: A escala SARA foi traduzida para o português brasileiro, analisada, traduzida novamente para o inglês e comparada com sua versão original. A escala foi aplicada em 30 pacientes. Além disso, nós aplicamos também a Escala Cooperativa Internacional para Graduação de Ataxia (ICARS) em todos os pacientes. RESULTADOS: A escala SARA foi traduzida para a versão brasileira com adequada consistência interna, mas uma correlação significativa com a escala ICARS não foi encontrada. CONCLUSÃO: A escala SARA foi traduzida e validada para o português brasileiro, demonstrando boa confiabilidade e validade.