Ataxia - telangiectasia: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P Ataxia-telangiectasia is a rare childhood disease. It affects the brain and other parts of the body.
P Ataxia refers to uncoordinated movements, such as walking. Telangiectasias are enlarged blood vessels (capillaries) just below the surface of the skin. Telangiectasias appear as tiny, red, spider-like veins.

T Causes
P Ataxia-telangiectasia is inherited. This means it is passed down through families. It is an autosomal recessive trait. Both parents must provide a copy of a nonworking gene for the child to have symptoms of the disorder.
P The disease results from defects in the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene. Defects in this gene can lead to abnormal cell death around the body, including the part of the brain that helps coordinate movement.
P Boys and girls are equally affected.

T Symptoms
P Symptoms include:
- Decreased coordination of movements (ataxia) in late childhood that can include ataxic gait (cerebellar ataxia), jerky gait, unsteadiness
- Decreasing mental development, slows or stops after age 10 to 12
- Delayed walking
- Discoloration of skin areas exposed to sunlight
- Discoloration of skin (coffee-with-milk-colored spots)
- Enlarged blood vessels in skin of nose, ears, and inside of the elbow and knee
- Enlarged blood vessels in the whites of the eyes
- Jerky or abnormal eye movements (nystagmus) late in the disease
- Premature graying of the hair
- Seizures
- Sensitivity to radiation, including x-rays
- Severe respiratory infections that keep coming back (recurring)

T Exams and Tests
P The health care provider will perform a physical exam. The exam may show signs of the following:
- Tonsils, lymph nodes, and spleen below normal size
- Decreased to absent deep tendon reflexes
- Delayed or absent physical and sexual development
- Growth failure
- Mask-like face
- Multiple skin coloring and texture changes
P Possible tests include:
- Alpha fetoprotein
- B and T cell screen
- Carcinoembryonic antigen
- Genetic testing to look for mutations in the ATM gene
- Glucose tolerance test
- Serum immunoglobulin levels (IgE, IgA)
- X-rays to look at the size of the thymus gland

T Treatment
P There is no specific treatment for ataxia-telangiectasia. Treatment is directed at specific symptoms.

T Support Groups
P Ataxia Telangiectasia Children's Project: www.atcp.org
P National Ataxia Foundation (NAF): www.ataxia.org

T Outlook (Prognosis)
P Early death is common, but life expectancy varies.
P Because people with this condition are very sensitive to radiation, they should never be given radiation therapy, and no unnecessary x-rays should be done.

T Possible Complications
P Complications may include:
- Cancer, such as lymphoma
- Diabetes
- Kyphosis
- Progressive movement disorder that leads to wheelchair use
- Scoliosis
- Severe, recurrent lung infections

T When to Contact a Medical Professional
P Call your provider if your child develops symptoms of this disorder.

T Prevention
P Couples with a family history of this condition who are considering pregnancy may consider genetic counseling.
P Parents of a child with this disorder may have a slight increased risk for cancer. They should have genetic counseling and increased cancer screenings.

T Alternative Names
P Louis-Bar syndrome

T Images
- Antibodies
- Telangiectasia

T References
P Gatti R, Perlman S. Ataxia-telangiectasia. GeneReviews. 2016. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20301790.
P Varma R, Williams SD. Neurology. In: Zitelli BJ, McIntire SC, Norwalk AJ, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Diagnosis. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2018:chap 16.

T Review Date 8/6/2017
P Updated by: Anna C. Edens Hurst, MD, MS, Assistant Professor in Medical Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

