title: Antigliadin antibody in sporadic adult ataxia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The most common neurologic manifestation of gluten sensitivity is ataxia, which accounts for up to 40% of idiopathic sporadic ataxia. Timing of diagnosis of gluten ataxia is vital as it is one of the very few treatable causes of sporadic ataxia and causes irreversible loss of Purkinje cells. Antigliadin antibody (AGA) of the IgG type is the best marker for neurological manifestations of gluten sensitivity. This study was conducted to measure the prevalence of gluten ataxia in a group of Iranian patients with idiopathic ataxia.
  
  
  METHODS
  For 30 patients with idiopathic cerebellar ataxia, a questionnaire about clinical and demographic data was completed. Serum AGA (IgA and IgG) and antiendomysial antibody (AEA) were assessed. Gluten ataxic patients underwent duodenal biopsy. Magnetic resonance imaging was done for all patients to see if cerebellar atrophy is present.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 2 patients had a positive IgG AGA (6.7%) who both had a positive AEA while none of them showed changes of celiac disease in their duodenal biopsies. Only presence of gastrointestinal symptoms and pursuit eye movement disorders were higher in patients with gluten ataxia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of gluten ataxia in Iranian patients with idiopathic ataxia seems to be lower than most of other regions. This could be explained by small sample size, differences in genetics and nutritional habits and also effect of serologic tests in clinical versus research setting. Further researches with larger sample size are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Yaser
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hamidian
authors.forename: Mansoureh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Togha
authors.forename: Shahriar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nafisi
authors.forename: Shahab
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dowlatshahi
authors.forename: Soodeh Razeghi
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Jahromi
authors.forename: Nahid Beladi
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Moghadam
authors.forename: Navid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Namazi
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tajik
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majed
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aloosh
keywords: Celiac Disease-Idiopathic Ataxia-Gluten Ataxia-Prevalence