TABLE 1 Recommended primary clinical evaluation for acquired causes of ataxia in an adult patient.
From the following article:
An approach to the patient with late-onset cerebellar ataxia
Brent L Fogel and Susan Perlman
BACK TO ARTICLE| Investigation | Differential diagnosisa |
|---|---|
aSelected differential diagnoses are shown in association with each test or study. | |
| Primary laboratory testing | |
| Serum electrolytes | Metabolic abnormalities |
| Complete blood count | Lymphoproliferative disorders |
| Renal function | Renal disease |
| Liver function | Hepatic disease |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) | Inflammation/vasculitis |
| Antinuclear antibody (ANA) | Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)/ rheumatologic disease |
| Rapid plasma reagin/fluorescein treponema antibody (RPR/FTA) | Neurosyphilis |
| Thyroid-stimulating hormone | Hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism |
| Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) Glucose tolerance | Diabetes mellitus |
| Vitamin B12 Methylmalonic acid Homocysteine | Subacute combined degeneration |
| Folate | Folate deficiency |
| Vitamin E | Vitamin E deficiency |
| Primary diagnostic studies | |
| Brain MRI | Stroke Subcortical vascular disease Neoplasm Structural anomaly Multiple sclerosis (MS) Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) Leukodystrophy Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) Neurodegeneration |
| Cervical, thoracic, and/or lumbar spine MRI | Multiple sclerosis (MS) Structural anomaly Myelopathy Radiculopathy |
| Chest, abdomen, and/or pelvis CT | Malignancy |
