Gluten Sensitivity – A Potentially Reversible Cause of Progressive Cerebellar Ataxia and Myoclonus – A Case Report
OD07-OD08
Correspondence
Dr. Geeta Anjum Khwaja,
Director Professor and Head, Department of Neurology, Academic Block,
Room No. -501, G.B. Pant Hospital, New Delhi-110002, India.
E-mail : geetakhwaja@hotmail.com
Gluten sensitivity is an umbrella term used for diverse clinical manifestations occurring as a result of abnormal immunological reactivity to dietary gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. Celiac disease is the most well-known but not the only manifestation of gluten sensitivity. Myoclonus with Ataxia is a rare manifestation of gluten sensitivity and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all patients with idiopathic sporadic ataxia. The presence of gluten-related immune markers in normal population however complicates the reliable diagnosis of gluten related neurological disorders and clinical improvement on gluten free diet can serve as a diagnostic tool for this disease. We report a case of sporadic progressive cerebellar ataxia with myoclonus with positive antigliadin antibodies, which improved with a trial of gluten free diet. This case highlights an important diagnostic and therapeutic principle in management of late onset idiopathic ataxia.