Episodic ataxia and channelopathies.
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| Abstract |
Clinical details are given of different types of episodic ataxia: type 1, with myokymia, and attacks which usually last a few minutes, and may occur several times a day, and treatment with acetazolamide can reduce the number of attacks; type 2, with interictal nystagmus, and attacks which last for several hours to a day or more, and treatment with acetazolamide is very effective; paroxysmal choreoathetosis with episodic ataxia, with attacks lasting for about 20 min and occurring at varying intervals; and familial hemiplegic migraine, with transient hemiplegia presenting during the aura of a migraine headache, the symptoms improving on treatment with acetazolamide. Their inheritance is of dominant type; and the gene for type 1 is mapped to chromosome 12p near to a cluster of potassium channel genes, and that for type 2 and for familial hemiplegic migraine to chromosome 19p near to calcium channel genes. The differential diagnosis from other conditions with a periodic symptomatology is discussed, especially from a number of metabolic disorders. Treatment is effective for many of these, and the treatment of the episodic ataxias with acetazolamide can sometimes have a dramatic effect. The possible role of the channelopathies in the causation of some periodic neurological disorders is considered; with the expectation that further research will improve the identification of specific diseases, and lead to more effective treatment.
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| Authors | N Gordon |
| Journal | Brain & development (Brain Dev) Vol. 20 Issue 1 Pg. 9-13 (Jan 1998) ISSN: 0387-7604 [Print] Netherlands |
| PMID | 9533553 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review) |
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