Cardiac Disease in Friedreich's Ataxia
Authors: EDWARD J. GAUTHIER
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1964)

Case Studies1 May 1964Cardiac Disease in Friedreich's AtaxiaEDWARD J. GAUTHIER, M.D.EDWARD J. GAUTHIER, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-60-5-892 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptCardiac involvement in Friedreich's ataxia has long been recognized. Five of the six cases originally described in 1863 had heart abnormalities (1-3). Recently, discovery of a familial type of primary myocardial disease in patients without ataxia has rekindled interest in myocardial changes with Friedreich's disease (4-6).Although the present case does not present a significant family history, it demonstrates well the clinical features most frequently described in the association of these two diseases.It is notable that a high incidence of chronic myocardial degeneration has also been reported in familial muscular dystrophy (7). In those cases, the relationship is more...References1. SCHILEROANTZISDUNN AJEJ: Friedreich's ataxia and its cardiac manifestations. Amer. Heart J. 44: 805, 1952. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. HARTMANBOOTH JMRW: Friedreich's ataxia: a neuro-cardiac disease. Amer. Heart J. 60: 716, 1960. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. LORENZKURTZSHAPIRO THCMHH: Cardiopathy in Freidreich's ataxia (spinal form of hereditary sclerosis). Arch. Intern. Med. (Chicago) 86: 412, 1950. CrossrefGoogle Scholar4. EVANS W: Familial cardiomegaly. Brit. Heart J. 11: 68, 1949. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. MANNING GW: Cardiac manifestations in Friedreich's ataxia. Amer. Heart J. 39: 799, 1950. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. ROTH M: On a possible relationship between hereditary ataxia and peroneal muscular atrophy: with a critical review of the problems of "intermediate forms" in the degenerative disorders of the central nervous system. Brain 71: 416, 1948. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. GILROYCALAHANBERMANNEWMAN JJLRM: Cardiac and pulmonary complications in Duchenne's progressive muscular atrophy. Circulation 27: 484, 1963. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. BROWN JR The cerebellum: Friedreich's ataxia, in Clinical Neurology, edited by BAKER, A. B., Hoeber-Harper, New York, 1955, chap. 22, p. 1240. Google Scholar9. HASSIN GB: Friedreich's ataxia: a histopathologic study. Arch. Neurol. Psychiat. 39: 116, 1938. CrossrefGoogle Scholar10. EVANSWRIGHT WG: The electrocardiogram in Friedreich's disease. Brit. Heart J. 4: 91, 1942. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. RUSSELL DS: Myocarditis in Friedreich's ataxia. J. Path. Bact. 58: 739, 1946. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. NADASALIMURUNGSIERACKI ASMMLA: Cardiac manifestations of Friedreich's ataxia. New Eng. J. Med. 244: 239, 1951. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: North Providence, Rhode IslandFrom Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island.This study was prepared while Dr. Gauthier was a recipient of a fellowship grant from the Rhode Island Heart Association.Requests for reprints should be addressed to Edward J. Gauthier, M.D., 20 Bennett Street, North Providence, Rhode Island. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byFeasibility of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Treatment in Five Patients With Familial Friedreich's Ataxia-A Case SeriesPermanent Use of a Ventricle Assist Device for Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Friedreich’s AtaxiaHeart Disease in Friedreich’s AtaxiaÄtiologie kardialer RhythmusstörungenCase Report Echocardiographic Observations in Patients with Friedreich’s AtaxiaThe Stokes-Adams syndrome 1 May 1964Volume 60, Issue 5Page: 892-897KeywordsArrhythmiaAtaxiaElectrocardiographyHeartHeart diseasesLongitudinal studiesMuscular dystrophiesMyocarditisPneumoniaTachycardia Issue Published: 1 May 1964 PDF downloadLoading ...