Ataxia Telangiectasia Arising as Immunodeficiency: The Intriguing Differential Diagnosis

Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) is a rare disease characterized by the early onset and slow progression of neurodegenerative defects, mainly affecting the cerebellum, associated with immunodeficiency and teleangiectasias. Ataxia is the hallmark of the disease and usually its first manifestation. Overt ce...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Federica Cavone, Susanna Cappelli, Alice Bonuccelli, Sofia D’Elios, Giorgio Costagliola, Diego Peroni, Alessandro Orsini, Rita Consolini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-09-01
Series:Journal of Clinical Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/18/6041
Description
Summary:Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) is a rare disease characterized by the early onset and slow progression of neurodegenerative defects, mainly affecting the cerebellum, associated with immunodeficiency and teleangiectasias. Ataxia is the hallmark of the disease and usually its first manifestation. Overt cerebellar ataxia usually becomes evident between 16 and 18 months of age, after the onset of walking, and is characterized by frequent falls and an ataxic gait with an enlarged base. We report the case of a child who first presented with serious recurrent infectious, without exhibiting neurological symptoms. The patient was initially diagnosed with combined immunodeficiency (CID) of unknown etiology for nearly 3 years, before he was definitively diagnosed with ataxia telangiectasia.
ISSN:2077-0383