Cardiac Manifestations of the Friedreich´s Ataxia

Overview

Friedreich´s ataxia is one of the most frequent ataxias of childhood. The disease is inherited in autosomal recessivemode. It is caused by deficiency of mitochondrial protein frataxin, which is responsible for the degenerativeimpairment of the spinocerebellar and corticospinal tracts and posterior columns of the spinal cord and for the heartdamage. We present a case report of a patient with a complete clinical syndrome. Patient experienced slowlyprogressive neurological symptomatology from the age of 6 years, which consisted of instability, gait abnormalities,tremor and ataxia. Adult patient became immobile with severe qadruparesis and dysarthria. Cardiac involvementpresented in adulthood with multifocal atrial tachycardia became the chief symptom. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathywas diagnosed.Diagnosis of Friedreich´s ataxia was confirmed by genetic analysis. Pharmacotherapy with coenzymeQ10 and carnitine was introduced with effort to slow down progression of cardiac impairment. Causal treatment isstill impossible.

Key words:
Friedreich´s ataxia, frataxin, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, neurogenetics.