Heterogeneous findings in four cases of cerebellar ataxia associated with hypogonadism (Holmes' type ataxia)

Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 1993 Mar;95(1):23-8. doi: 10.1016/0303-8467(93)90087-w.

Abstract

We report four sporadic cases of cerebellar ataxia associated with hypogonadism. All patients were female. The neurological symptoms appeared in the first three decades. Apart from ataxia, the most frequent features were nystagmus, dysarthria, mental impairment, brisk tendon reflexes, skeletal deformities, peripheral neuropathy, and tremor. Neuroimaging studies showed constant cerebellar atrophy, in some instances associated with involvement of either grey or white cerebral matter. Neurophysiological studies demonstrated an axonal neuropathy. Endocrine evaluation showed heterogeneity of the hypogonadism, which was hypogonadotrophic in one patient and hypergonadotrophic in the other three. One patient had partial deficiency of muscle cytochrome c oxidase. The syndrome appears to be a heterogeneous multisystem disorder and in some cases a mitochondrial metabolism deficiency could be suspected.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cerebellum / pathology
  • Consanguinity
  • Female
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / blood
  • Humans
  • Hypogonadism / diagnosis
  • Hypogonadism / genetics*
  • Hypogonadism / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies / diagnosis
  • Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies / genetics*
  • Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies / pathology
  • Pons / pathology
  • Spinocerebellar Degenerations / diagnosis
  • Spinocerebellar Degenerations / genetics*
  • Spinocerebellar Degenerations / pathology

Substances

  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones