Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy
Definition
Olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) is a group of disorders characterized by degeneration of three brain areas: the inferior olives, the pons, and the cerebellum. OPCA causes increasingly severe ataxia (loss of coordination) as well as other symptoms.
Description
Two distinct groups of diseases are called OPCA, leading to some confusion. Non-inherited OPCA, also called sporadic OPCA, is now considered a form of multiple system atrophy (MSA). Hereditary OPCA, also called inherited OPCA and familial OPCA, is caused by inheritance of a defective gene, which is recognized in some forms but not in others.
Demographics
Hereditary OPCA affects approximately 10,000 people in the United States, with males affected approximately twice as often as females. The average age of onset is 28 years.
Causes and symptoms
By definition, hereditary OPCA is caused by the inheritance of a defective gene. Several genes have been identified. The two most common are known as SCA-1 and SCA-2 (SCA stands for spinocerebellar ataxia). These genes cause similar, though not identical, diseases. Besides these two genes, there are at least 20 other genetic forms of the disease. For reasons that are not understood, these gene defects cause degeneration (cell death) in specific parts of the brain, leading to the symptoms of the disorder. The cerebellum is a principal center for coordination, and its degeneration leads to loss of coordination.
The most common early symptom of OPCA is ataxia, or incoordination, which may be observed in an unsteady gait or over-reaching for an object with the hand. Other common symptoms include dysarthria (speech difficulty), dysphagia (swallowing difficulty), nystagmus (eye tremor), and abnormal movements such as jerking, twisting, or writhing. Symptoms worsen over time.
Diagnosis
An initial diagnosis of OPCA can be made with a careful neurological examination (testing of reflexes, balance, coordination, etc.), plus a magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the brain to look for atrophy (loss of tissue) in the characteristic brain regions. Genetic tests exist for SCA-1 and SCA-2 forms. Many other types of tests are possible, although they are usually done only to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms or to confirm the diagnosis in uncertain cases. Because the symptoms of OPCA can be so variable, especially at the beginning of the disease, it may be difficult to obtain a definite diagnosis early on.
