A case of chronic recurrent cerebellar ataxia responding to steroid therapy.
We present a 25-month-old female having unusual cerebellar ataxia responsive to steroid therapy. She had suddenly suffered from action tremor and trunkal ataxia, following antecedent mild respiratory infection. These symptoms lasted for a month, and therefore she was referred to our hospital. No abnormal findings were disclosed for cerebrospinal fluid or MR images, but anti-glutamate receptor delta2 antibodies were detected in serum. MR spectroscopy of the cerebellum revealed a decrease in the N-acethylasparate/creatine ratio, suggesting micro-neuronal damage. She had quickly responded to high-dose methylpredonisolone therapy and the effectiveness of this steroid was reproducible in the subsequent relapses of ataxia. This clinical course seemed to be unique and was characterized as chronic recurrent cerebellar ataxia responding to steroid therapy.
Department of Pediatrics, Yokohama City University Medical Center, 4-57 Urafune-cho, Minami-ku, Yokohama 232-0024, Japan. k-ichi@urahp.yokohama-cu.ac.jp
Kazushi
K
Ichikawa
Masako
M
Kikuchi
Saoko
S
Takeshita
Atsuo
A
Nezu
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008775:Methylprednisolone