eMedicine Specialties > Neurology > Movement and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Friedreich Ataxia: Follow-up

Author: Jasvinder Chawla, MBBS, MD, MBA, Associate Professor of Neurology, Director of Neurology Residency Training Program, Director of Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory, Assistant Director of Neurology Clerkship Program, Department of Neurology, Loyola University Medical Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Nov 6, 2008

Follow-up

Prognosis

  • Health related quality of life (QOL) measures are potentially useful as clinical markers of disease status in Friedreich ataxia (FA).
  • The prognosis of FA is poor.
  • The disorder is progressive, with a mean duration of 15-20 years.
  • More than 95% of patients are wheelchair bound by age 45 years.
  • Commonly, patients survive to 25-30 years of age, although some patients have survived into the sixth and seventh decades, especially if they are free of heart disease and diabetes.
  • QOL is significantly worse in these individuals compared with population norms. Those with severe disease did not perceive a lower QOL than those with mild or moderate disease except in their physical functioning. A later age of onset and increased disease severity were negatively associated with physical QOL, while increased disease duration was positively associated with mental QOL.10
 


More on Friedreich Ataxia

Overview: Friedreich Ataxia
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Friedreich Ataxia
Treatment & Medication: Friedreich Ataxia
Follow-up: Friedreich Ataxia
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

Friedreich's ataxia, FA, FRDA, inherited ataxia, hereditary ataxia, progressive limb and gait ataxia, dysarthria, loss of joint position and vibration senses, absent tendon reflexes in the legs, extensor plantar responses, loss of ambulation, autosomal recessive ataxia

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Jasvinder Chawla, MBBS, MD, MBA, Associate Professor of Neurology, Director of Neurology Residency Training Program, Director of Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory, Assistant Director of Neurology Clerkship Program, Department of Neurology, Loyola University Medical Center
Jasvinder Chawla, MBBS, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Dianna Quan, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology, Director, Electromyography Laboratory, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
Dianna Quan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: e-medicine Honoraria Other

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Florian P Thomas, MD, MA, PhD, Drmed, Director, Spinal Cord Injury Unit, St Louis Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Director, National MS Society Multiple Sclerosis Center; Professor, Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Associate Professor, Institute for Molecular Virology, and Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, St Louis University
Florian P Thomas, MD, MA, PhD, Drmed is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Paraplegia Society, and National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Matthew J Baker, MD, Consulting Staff, Collier Neurologic Specialists, Naples Community Hospital
Matthew J Baker, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Selim R Benbadis, MD, Professor, Director of Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of South Florida School of Medicine, Tampa General Hospital
Selim R Benbadis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, American Epilepsy Society, and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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