Familial occurrence of hypothyroidism and cerebellar ataxia.
Several cases of association between cerebellar ataxia and hypothyroidism have been reported, in which cerebellar symptoms regressed after euthyroid state was obtained, suggesting an etiologic relationship between hypothyroidism and ataxia. We present a further case of hypothyroidism and ataxia, with a peculiar positive family history for both thyroid and cerebellar disorders. Long-term replacement therapy with L-thyroxine determined the regression of hypothyroidism; however, no improvement in cerebellar symptoms was observed. The lack of response of the neurologic symptoms to L-thyroxine treatment suggests the absence of an etiological relationship between thyroid disease and cerebellar disease in this case.
Instituto di Clinica Neurologica, Università di Pisa, Italy.
U
U
Bonuccelli
A
A
Nuti
F
F
Monzani
F
F
De Negri
A
A
Muratorio
D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D013132:Spinocerebellar Degenerations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D013974:Thyroxine