Learn About Ataxia-Telangiectasia
Ataxia-telangiectasia is a rare childhood disease. It affects the brain and other parts of the body.
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 blood vessels.
Louis-Bar syndrome
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.
The disease results from a variant in the ATM gene. This gene provides instructions for making a protein that helps control the rate at which cells grow and divide. Defects in this gene can lead to abnormal cell death in many sites of the body, including the part of the brain that helps coordinate movement.
Boys and girls are equally affected.
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)
There is no specific treatment for ataxia-telangiectasia. Treatment is directed at specific symptoms.
Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
Dr. Tom Crawford has been a member of the Department of Neurology since 1987. He is co-director of the MDA clinic for Neuromuscular Disorders and Neurologist for the Ataxia Telangiectasia Clinical Center at Johns Hopkins. His practice involves general child neurology with a principal interest in caring for children with neuromuscular, neuromotor, and ataxic disorders. Primary research interests involve the basic science and clinical characterization of two important neurologic disorders that affect children: Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Ataxia Telangiectasia. He is also actively involved in the Biology of neurofilaments by characterization of transgenic animal models. He is on the Medical and Scientific Advisory Boards of Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and the Medical Advisory Committee for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He is the Neurologist for the Ataxia Telangiectasia Clinical Center at Johns Hopkins, which has evaluated almost half of the known patients with this disorder in the United States. Additional specific clinical interests include evaluation and treatment of children with brachial plexus palsies. Dr. Crawford received his medical degree from the University of Southern California. He completed a pediatric internship and residency at the Pediatric Pavilion of the Los Angeles County / University of Southern California Medical Center, followed by a pediatric chief residency. He completed his training in Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology at the Los Angeles Childrens Hospital. He then traveled east to the laboratory of Dr John Griffin at Johns Hopkins for a fellowship in Neuromuscular Disorders. Prior to medical training and Neurology residency, he majored in Psychology and Religion at Yale College. Dr. Crawford has published extensively and presented nationally and internationally. He has an active role in teaching medical students and residents in neurology. In addition, Dr. Crawford has special interest and experience in EMG studies of children and adults. Dr. Crawford is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ataxia-Telangiectasia. His top areas of expertise are Primary Lateral Sclerosis, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Ataxia-Telangiectasia, and Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2.
Ruth Plummer practices in Countess Wear, United Kingdom. Ms. Plummer is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Ataxia-Telangiectasia. Her top areas of expertise are Ataxia-Telangiectasia, Telangiectasia, Melanoma, and Basal Cell Skin Cancer.
Stefan Zielen practices in Frankfurt Am Main, Germany. Mr. Zielen is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Ataxia-Telangiectasia. His top areas of expertise are Ataxia-Telangiectasia, Grass Allergy, Telangiectasia, Cystic Fibrosis, and Bone Marrow Transplant.
More information and support for people with ataxia-telangiectasia condition and their families can be found at:
- Ataxia Telangiectasia Children's Project: www.atcp.org
- National Ataxia Foundation (NAF): www.ataxia.org
Early death is common, but life expectancy varies.
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.
Complications may include:
- Cancer, such as lymphoma
- Diabetes
- Kyphosis
- Progressive movement disorder that leads to wheelchair use
- Scoliosis
- Severe, recurrent lung infections
Contact your provider if your child develops symptoms of this disorder.
Couples with a family history of this condition who are considering pregnancy may consider genetic counseling.
Parents of a child with this disorder may have a slight increased risk for cancer. They should have genetic counseling and increased cancer screenings.
Summary: This is an international, multi-center, prospective, open-label, non-comparative study to provide EryDex treatment to ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) patients who complete the IEDAT-04-2022 trial on the neurological effects of EryDex on subjects with ataxia telangiectasia (NEAT trial).
Summary: This phase I/II trial studies the side effects and best dose of temozolomide and M1774 and how well they works in treating patients with cancer that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic) and may have spread to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced). Temozolomide is in a class of medications called alkylating agen...
Published Date: September 18, 2023
Published By: Anna C. Edens Hurst, MD, MS, Associate Professor in Medical Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Cunningham-Rundles C. Primary immunodeficiency diseases. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 231.
Martin KL. Vascular disorders. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 669.
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center website. Ataxia-telangiectasia. rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/5862/ataxia-telangiectasia. Updated February 2023. Accessed October 17, 2023.
Safier RA, Cleves-Bayon C, Gaesser J. Neurology. In: Zitelli BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 16.