Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2): clinical features and genetic analysis

J Trop Pediatr. 2008 Oct;54(5):350-2. doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmn034. Epub 2008 May 22.

Abstract

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease that results from the expansion of an unstable trinucleotide CAG repeat encoding for a polyglutamine tract. In normal individuals, alleles contain between 14 and 31 CAG repeats, whereas the pathological alleles have more than 35 CAG repeats. The clinical phenotype of SCA2 includes a progressive cerebellar ataxia with additional features such as ophthalmoplegia, extra-pyramidal or pyramidal signs and peripheral neuropathy. We report a SCA2 large African family with several affected individuals. A major pathological allele carrying 43 CAG repeats was identified in the proband. To our knowledge, this is a first report of a SCA disorder described in Central African patients, thus indicating the need to consider this diagnosis in young African ataxic patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Alleles
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Testing
  • Humans
  • Movement Disorders / etiology
  • Ophthalmoplegia / etiology
  • Pedigree
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / etiology
  • Phenotype
  • Rwanda
  • Spinocerebellar Ataxias / complications
  • Spinocerebellar Ataxias / diagnosis*
  • Spinocerebellar Ataxias / genetics*
  • Trinucleotide Repeats*