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Ataxia - oculomotor apraxia type 4(AOA4)

MedGen UID:
902323
Concept ID:
C4225397
Disease or Syndrome
Synonym: Ataxia-oculomotor apraxia 4
Modes of inheritance:
Autosomal recessive inheritance
MedGen UID:
141025
Concept ID:
C0441748
Intellectual Product
Source: Orphanet
A mode of inheritance that is observed for traits related to a gene encoded on one of the autosomes (i.e., the human chromosomes 1-22) in which a trait manifests in individuals with two pathogenic alleles, either homozygotes (two copies of the same mutant allele) or compound heterozygotes (whereby each copy of a gene has a distinct mutant allele).
 
Gene (location): PNKP (19q13.33)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0014557
OMIM®: 616267
Orphanet: ORPHA459033

Definition

Ataxia-oculomotor apraxia-4 (AOA4) is an autosomal recessive neurologic disorder characterized by onset of dystonia and ataxia in the first decade. Additional features include oculomotor apraxia and peripheral neuropathy. Some patients may show cognitive impairment. The disorder is progressive, and most patients become wheelchair-bound in the second or third decade (summary by Bras et al., 2015). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of ataxia-oculomotor apraxia, see AOA1 (208920). [from OMIM]

Additional description

From MedlinePlus Genetics
People with some types of ataxia with oculomotor apraxia may have characteristic blood abnormalities. Individuals with type 1 tend to have reduced amounts of a protein called albumin, which transports molecules in the blood. The shortage of albumin likely results in elevated levels of cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream. Increased cholesterol levels raise a person's risk of developing heart disease.

Type 1 begins around age 4. In addition to ataxia and oculomotor apraxia, affected individuals can have involuntary jerking movements (chorea) or muscle twitches (myoclonus); these movement problems tend to disappear over time. Individuals with this type may also develop muscle wasting in their hands and feet, which further impairs movement. As in all forms of ataxia with oculomotor apraxia, nearly all people with type 1 develop nerve abnormalities (neuropathy). Neuropathy impairs reflexes and leads to limb weakness and an inability to sense vibrations. Many individuals with ataxia with oculomotor apraxia require wheelchair assistance, typically 10 to 15 years after the start of movement problems.

There are several types of ataxia with oculomotor apraxia, the most common of which are types 1, 2, and 4. The types are very similar but are caused by mutations in different genes.

Ataxia with oculomotor apraxia is a condition characterized by problems with movement that worsen over time. The hallmark of this condition is poor coordination and balance (ataxia), which is often the first symptom. Most affected people also have oculomotor apraxia, which makes it difficult to move their eyes side-to-side. People with oculomotor apraxia have to turn their head to see things in their side (peripheral) vision.

In ataxia with oculomotor apraxia type 4, albumin levels can be low, and cholesterol or AFP can be elevated. However, the amounts of these molecules are normal in many affected individuals.

Ataxia with oculomotor apraxia type 4 begins around age 4. In addition to ataxia and oculomotor apraxia, individuals with this type typically develop dystonia, which is involuntary, sustained muscle tensing that causes unusual positioning of body parts. Dystonia can be the first feature of the condition, and it tends to disappear gradually over time. Muscle wasting in the hands and feet and neuropathy are also common in individuals with type 4.

A key feature of ataxia with oculomotor apraxia type 2 is high amounts of a protein called alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the blood. (Raised levels of this protein are normally seen in the bloodstream of pregnant women.) Individuals with type 2 may also have high amounts of a protein called creatine phosphokinase (CPK) in their blood. This protein is normally found primarily in muscle tissue. The effect of abnormally high levels of AFP or CPK in people with ataxia with oculomotor apraxia type 2 is unknown. Although individuals with type 2 usually have normal albumin levels, cholesterol may be elevated.

Ataxia with oculomotor apraxia type 2 usually begins around age 15. As in type 1, affected individuals may have chorea or myoclonus, although these movement problems persist throughout life in type 2. Neuropathy is also common in this type.

Intelligence is usually not affected by ataxia with oculomotor apraxia, but some people with the condition have intellectual disability.  https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/ataxia-with-oculomotor-apraxia

Clinical features

From HPO
Obesity
MedGen UID:
18127
Concept ID:
C0028754
Disease or Syndrome
Accumulation of substantial excess body fat.
Cerebellar ataxia
MedGen UID:
849
Concept ID:
C0007758
Disease or Syndrome
Cerebellar ataxia refers to ataxia due to dysfunction of the cerebellum. This causes a variety of elementary neurological deficits including asynergy (lack of coordination between muscles, limbs and joints), dysmetria (lack of ability to judge distances that can lead to under- or overshoot in grasping movements), and dysdiadochokinesia (inability to perform rapid movements requiring antagonizing muscle groups to be switched on and off repeatedly).
Dystonic disorder
MedGen UID:
3940
Concept ID:
C0013421
Sign or Symptom
An abnormally increased muscular tone that causes fixed abnormal postures. There is a slow, intermittent twisting motion that leads to exaggerated turning and posture of the extremities and trunk.
Peripheral neuropathy
MedGen UID:
18386
Concept ID:
C0031117
Disease or Syndrome
Peripheral neuropathy is a general term for any disorder of the peripheral nervous system. The main clinical features used to classify peripheral neuropathy are distribution, type (mainly demyelinating versus mainly axonal), duration, and course.
Tetraplegia
MedGen UID:
19617
Concept ID:
C0034372
Disease or Syndrome
Paralysis of all four limbs, and trunk of the body below the level of an associated injury to the spinal cord. The etiology of quadriplegia is similar to that of paraplegia except that the lesion is in the cervical spinal cord rather than in the thoracic or lumbar segments of the spinal cord.
Abnormal pyramidal sign
MedGen UID:
68582
Concept ID:
C0234132
Sign or Symptom
Functional neurological abnormalities related to dysfunction of the pyramidal tract.
Areflexia
MedGen UID:
115943
Concept ID:
C0234146
Finding
Absence of neurologic reflexes such as the knee-jerk reaction.
Cognitive impairment
MedGen UID:
90932
Concept ID:
C0338656
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Abnormal cognition is characterized by deficits in thinking, reasoning, or remembering.
Cerebellar atrophy
MedGen UID:
196624
Concept ID:
C0740279
Disease or Syndrome
Cerebellar atrophy is defined as a cerebellum with initially normal structures, in a posterior fossa with normal size, which displays enlarged fissures (interfolial spaces) in comparison to the foliae secondary to loss of tissue. Cerebellar atrophy implies irreversible loss of tissue and result from an ongoing progressive disease until a final stage is reached or a single injury, e.g. an intoxication or infectious event.
Impaired vibratory sensation
MedGen UID:
220959
Concept ID:
C1295585
Finding
A decrease in the ability to perceive vibration. Clinically, this is usually tested with a tuning fork which vibrates at 128 Hz and is applied to bony prominences such as the malleoli at the ankles or the metacarpal-phalangeal joints. There is a slow decay of vibration from the tuning fork. The degree of vibratory sense loss can be crudely estimated by counting the number of seconds that the examiner can perceive the vibration longer than the patient.
Oculomotor apraxia
MedGen UID:
483686
Concept ID:
C3489733
Disease or Syndrome
Ocular motor apraxia is a deficiency in voluntary, horizontal, lateral, fast eye movements (saccades) with retention of slow pursuit movements. The inability to follow objects visually is often compensated by head movements. There may be decreased smooth pursuit, and cancelation of the vestibulo-ocular reflex.
Atrophy/Degeneration affecting the brainstem
MedGen UID:
870454
Concept ID:
C4024900
Disease or Syndrome
Hypercholesterolemia
MedGen UID:
5687
Concept ID:
C0020443
Disease or Syndrome
An increased concentration of cholesterol in the blood.
Elevated circulating alpha-fetoprotein concentration
MedGen UID:
65916
Concept ID:
C0235971
Finding
Concentration of alpha-fetoprotein in the blood circulation above the upper limit of normal.
Hypoalbuminemia
MedGen UID:
68694
Concept ID:
C0239981
Finding
Reduction in the concentration of albumin in the blood.

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVAtaxia - oculomotor apraxia type 4

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Renaud M, Moreira MC, Ben Monga B, Rodriguez D, Debs R, Charles P, Chaouch M, Ferrat F, Laurencin C, Vercueil L, Mallaret M, M'Zahem A, Pacha LA, Tazir M, Tilikete C, Ollagnon E, Ochsner F, Kuntzer T, Jung HH, Beis JM, Netter JC, Djamshidian A, Bower M, Bottani A, Walsh R, Murphy S, Reiley T, Bieth É, Roelens F, Poll-The BT, Lourenço CM, Jardim LB, Straussberg R, Landrieu P, Roze E, Thobois S, Pouget J, Guissart C, Goizet C, Dürr A, Tranchant C, Koenig M, Anheim M
JAMA Neurol 2018 Apr 1;75(4):495-502. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2017.4373. PMID: 29356829Free PMC Article
Cardoso F
Neurodegener Dis Manag 2014;4(1):67-72. doi: 10.2217/nmt.13.78. PMID: 24640980
Anheim M, Monga B, Fleury M, Charles P, Barbot C, Salih M, Delaunoy JP, Fritsch M, Arning L, Synofzik M, Schöls L, Sequeiros J, Goizet C, Marelli C, Le Ber I, Koht J, Gazulla J, De Bleecker J, Mukhtar M, Drouot N, Ali-Pacha L, Benhassine T, Chbicheb M, M'Zahem A, Hamri A, Chabrol B, Pouget J, Murphy R, Watanabe M, Coutinho P, Tazir M, Durr A, Brice A, Tranchant C, Koenig M
Brain 2009 Oct;132(Pt 10):2688-98. Epub 2009 Aug 20 doi: 10.1093/brain/awp211. PMID: 19696032

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Crossley MP, Song C, Bocek MJ, Choi JH, Kousouros JN, Sathirachinda A, Lin C, Brickner JR, Bai G, Lans H, Vermeulen W, Abu-Remaileh M, Cimprich KA
Nature 2023 Jan;613(7942):187-194. Epub 2022 Dec 21 doi: 10.1038/s41586-022-05545-9. PMID: 36544021Free PMC Article
Ronsin S, Hannoun S, Thobois S, Petiot P, Vighetto A, Cotton F, Tilikete C
Eur J Radiol 2019 Jan;110:187-192. Epub 2018 Nov 29 doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2018.11.035. PMID: 30599859
Ruano L, Melo C, Silva MC, Coutinho P
Neuroepidemiology 2014;42(3):174-83. Epub 2014 Mar 5 doi: 10.1159/000358801. PMID: 24603320
Panouillères M, Frismand S, Sillan O, Urquizar C, Vighetto A, Pélisson D, Tilikete C
Cerebellum 2013 Aug;12(4):557-67. doi: 10.1007/s12311-013-0463-1. PMID: 23475383
Liu W, Narayanan V
Semin Pediatr Neurol 2008 Dec;15(4):216-20. doi: 10.1016/j.spen.2008.10.014. PMID: 19073331

Diagnosis

Schröder S, Yigit G, Li Y, Altmüller J, Büttel HM, Fiedler B, Kretzschmar C, Nürnberg P, Seeger J, Serpieri V, Valente EM, Wollnik B, Boltshauser E, Brockmann K
Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023 May 2;18(1):101. doi: 10.1186/s13023-023-02706-5. PMID: 37131188Free PMC Article
Alyasin S, Esmaeilzadeh H, Ebrahimi N, Nabavizadeh SH, Nemati H
Arch Iran Med 2019 Dec 1;22(12):682-686. PMID: 31823618
Ronsin S, Hannoun S, Thobois S, Petiot P, Vighetto A, Cotton F, Tilikete C
Eur J Radiol 2019 Jan;110:187-192. Epub 2018 Nov 29 doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2018.11.035. PMID: 30599859
Ruano L, Melo C, Silva MC, Coutinho P
Neuroepidemiology 2014;42(3):174-83. Epub 2014 Mar 5 doi: 10.1159/000358801. PMID: 24603320
Panouillères M, Frismand S, Sillan O, Urquizar C, Vighetto A, Pélisson D, Tilikete C
Cerebellum 2013 Aug;12(4):557-67. doi: 10.1007/s12311-013-0463-1. PMID: 23475383

Therapy

Panouillères M, Frismand S, Sillan O, Urquizar C, Vighetto A, Pélisson D, Tilikete C
Cerebellum 2013 Aug;12(4):557-67. doi: 10.1007/s12311-013-0463-1. PMID: 23475383

Prognosis

Schiess N, Zee DS, Siddiqui KA, Szolics M, El-Hattab AW
J Neurogenet 2017 Mar-Jun;31(1-2):23-25. doi: 10.1080/01677063.2017.1322079. PMID: 28552035
Vantaggiato C, Bondioni S, Airoldi G, Bozzato A, Borsani G, Rugarli EI, Bresolin N, Clementi E, Bassi MT
Brain 2011 Jun;134(Pt 6):1808-28. Epub 2011 May 15 doi: 10.1093/brain/awr084. PMID: 21576111
Fogel BL, Lee JY, Perlman S
Cerebellum 2009 Dec;8(4):448-53. doi: 10.1007/s12311-009-0130-8. PMID: 19727998Free PMC Article
Anheim M, Monga B, Fleury M, Charles P, Barbot C, Salih M, Delaunoy JP, Fritsch M, Arning L, Synofzik M, Schöls L, Sequeiros J, Goizet C, Marelli C, Le Ber I, Koht J, Gazulla J, De Bleecker J, Mukhtar M, Drouot N, Ali-Pacha L, Benhassine T, Chbicheb M, M'Zahem A, Hamri A, Chabrol B, Pouget J, Murphy R, Watanabe M, Coutinho P, Tazir M, Durr A, Brice A, Tranchant C, Koenig M
Brain 2009 Oct;132(Pt 10):2688-98. Epub 2009 Aug 20 doi: 10.1093/brain/awp211. PMID: 19696032
Le Ber I, Moreira MC, Rivaud-Péchoux S, Chamayou C, Ochsner F, Kuntzer T, Tardieu M, Saïd G, Habert MO, Demarquay G, Tannier C, Beis JM, Brice A, Koenig M, Dürr A
Brain 2003 Dec;126(Pt 12):2761-72. Epub 2003 Sep 23 doi: 10.1093/brain/awg283. PMID: 14506070

Clinical prediction guides

Schröder S, Yigit G, Li Y, Altmüller J, Büttel HM, Fiedler B, Kretzschmar C, Nürnberg P, Seeger J, Serpieri V, Valente EM, Wollnik B, Boltshauser E, Brockmann K
Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023 May 2;18(1):101. doi: 10.1186/s13023-023-02706-5. PMID: 37131188Free PMC Article
Crossley MP, Song C, Bocek MJ, Choi JH, Kousouros JN, Sathirachinda A, Lin C, Brickner JR, Bai G, Lans H, Vermeulen W, Abu-Remaileh M, Cimprich KA
Nature 2023 Jan;613(7942):187-194. Epub 2022 Dec 21 doi: 10.1038/s41586-022-05545-9. PMID: 36544021Free PMC Article
Richard P, Feng S, Tsai YL, Li W, Rinchetti P, Muhith U, Irizarry-Cole J, Stolz K, Sanz LA, Hartono S, Hoque M, Tadesse S, Seitz H, Lotti F, Hirano M, Chédin F, Tian B, Manley JL
Autophagy 2021 Aug;17(8):1889-1906. Epub 2020 Aug 7 doi: 10.1080/15548627.2020.1796292. PMID: 32686621Free PMC Article
Alyasin S, Esmaeilzadeh H, Ebrahimi N, Nabavizadeh SH, Nemati H
Arch Iran Med 2019 Dec 1;22(12):682-686. PMID: 31823618
Perez Y, Shorer Z, Liani-Leibson K, Chabosseau P, Kadir R, Volodarsky M, Halperin D, Barber-Zucker S, Shalev H, Schreiber R, Gradstein L, Gurevich E, Zarivach R, Rutter GA, Landau D, Birk OS
Brain 2017 Apr 1;140(4):928-939. doi: 10.1093/brain/awx013. PMID: 28334855Free PMC Article

Recent systematic reviews

Ruano L, Melo C, Silva MC, Coutinho P
Neuroepidemiology 2014;42(3):174-83. Epub 2014 Mar 5 doi: 10.1159/000358801. PMID: 24603320

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