NINDS Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy Information Page olivopontocerebellar atrophy information sheet compiled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/opca_doc.htm
Extractions: There is no specific treatment for OPCA. Physicians may try different medications to treat the ataxia, tremor and rigidity that are associated with the disorder. Other treatments are directed at specific symptoms. Stiffness, spasms, sleep disorders, depression, and tremor may be improved with medication. A physical therapist may be helpful in establishing a routine of exercise and stretching, and in obtaining devices or appliances to assist in walking and other daily activities. What is the prognosis?
MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy olivopontocerebellar atrophy is a neurodegenerative illness that causes certain brain areas (which The cause of sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophy is not known, but the disease http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000758.htm
Extractions: @import url(http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/images/advanced.css); Skip navigation Other encyclopedia topics: A-Ag Ah-Ap Aq-Az B-Bk ... Z Contents of this page: Central nervous system Alternative names Return to top OPCA; Olivopontocerebellar degeneration Definition Return to top Olivopontocerebellar atrophy is a neurodegenerative illness that causes certain brain areas (which may include the olivary nucleus, the pons, and the cerebellum) to shrink. Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top This condition can be inherited but it most commonly affects people without a known family history (sporadic form). Sporadic cases tend to affect people in their 50s while familial cases usually start earlier. The cause of sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophy is not known, but the disease is progressive. Symptoms Return to top Many symptoms are associated with olivopontocerebellar atrophy but the predominant feature is progressive ataxia (clumsiness) and difficulties with balance. There may be slurring of speech and difficulty walking. Other symptoms may include:
Internaf/archives/Sporadic.txt Introduction olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) is almost certainly not a single disease, but In the brochure "Hereditary olivopontocerebellar atrophy", we describe forms of ataxia http://pages.infinit.net/macmike/internaf/archives/Sporadic.txt
Extractions: Introduction Olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) is almost certainly not a single disease, but a group of diseases. In this brochure, we discuss OPCA that has occurred "sporadically", which means that no one else in the family has ever had the same disorder. In the brochure "Hereditary Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy", we describe forms of ataxia that are known to run in families. Many people do not receive a diagnosis of OPCA until they have seen many different physicians. Physicians also use different terms when they diagnose OPCA. Here is a list of some of the terms, or diagnoses, that physicians may use: * olivopontocerebellar atrophy or degeneration * olivocerebellar atrophy or degeneration * multisystem atrophy * ataxia * Marie's ataxia * Holmes ataxia * Menzel's ataxia * ataxia with Parkinsonism, autonomic neuropathy, corticospinal features or dementia * spastic ataxia In addition many patients with sporadic OPCA may have been diagnosed as having Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or other neurologic conditions before the diagnosis of OPCA becomes clear. What are the symptoms of OPCA? The symptoms of OPCA are different from one person to the next, which is one reason why the diagnosis may be hard to make. Most patients with sporadic OPCA develop difficulty with balance and coordination of the legs and arms (ataxia), and many develop slurred speech (dysarthria). If the ataxia becomes severe, it can interfere with the person's ability to work at his job, to walk independently, to write or feed himself. Many patients with sporadic OPCA develop symptoms in addition to ataxia; occasionally these symptoms come on earlier or are most obvious than the ataxia. These symptoms may include weakness, stiffness of the muscles, or muscle spasms; numbness or tingling of the hands or feet; tremor (shaking) of the hand or arm, slowness of movements, and decreased movements; loss of thinking or memory skills; and difficulty controlling the bladder or bowels, or feeling faint when standing up. Some patients with sporadic OPCA have troubles with sleep; others note fatigue as a troublesome symptom. The symptoms of OPCA usually come on in mid-adult life and progress slowly over a course of many years. What causes OPCA? There are probably many different causes for OPCA, because OPCA is really a number of different disorders. When a person with symptoms suggesting OPCA sees a physician, the physician may do a large number of tests to look for medical and neurologic diseases that we already know about that can cause these symptoms. Among the medical and neurologic diseases that can cause or be associated with ataxia and/or some of the other symptoms described above are: * cancer (particularly lung and ovarian) * chronic alcohol use or abuse * Vitamin B12, thiamine, or Vitamin E deficiency * hypothyroidism * certain drugs, in particular drugs to treat epilepsy * strokes, tumors, or cysts in the cerebellum or brainstem * hydrocephalus * residual effects of encephalitis or suffocation * exposure to certain toxins, such as heavy metals (lead, thallium) * a number of rare "enzyme" or "metabolic" disorders * multiple sclerosis * peripheral neuropathy (various types) You can see why it may take a long time and a number of tests before all these possibilities are considered and a diagnosis of OPCA is made. Sometimes the diagnosis may never be entirely certain. There is no single test that proves that a person has sporadic OPCA; rather, the diagnosis is usually made in a patient with a appropriate symptoms in whom other conditions have been "ruled out." Commonly, a person who has OPCA will undergo a number of blood tests, imaging of the brain and/or spinal cord by CT (computerized tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), and (depending on the specific symptoms) evaluation for cancer, multiple sclerosis, or peripheral neuropathy before a diagnosis is made. For the full text of this article please contact the National Ataxia Foundation at naf@mr.net
Www.ninds.nih.gov/healinfo/DISORDER/opca/OPCA.HTM More results from www.ninds.nih.gov eMedicine olivopontocerebellar atrophy Article by Joseph Quinn olivopontocerebellar atrophy - In 1900, Dejerine and Thomas first introduced the term olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA). olivopontocerebellar atrophy. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/healinfo/DISORDER/opca/OPCA.HTM
EMedicine - Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy : Article By Joseph Quinn, MD olivopontocerebellar atrophy In 1900, Dejerine and Thomas first introduced the term olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA). Since then, the classification of idiopathic acquired ataxias has evolved http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic282.htm
Extractions: (advertisement) Home Specialties Resource Centers CME ... Patient Education Articles Images CME Patient Education Advanced Search Consumer Health Link to this site Back to: eMedicine Specialties Neurology Movement And Neurodegenerative Diseases Last Updated: June 17, 2003 Rate this Article Email to a Colleague Synonyms and related keywords: spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, SCA-1, spinocerebellar ataxia type 2, SCA-2 AUTHOR INFORMATION Section 1 of 10 Author Information Introduction Clinical Differentials ... Bibliography Author: Joseph Quinn, MD , Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Portland VA Medical Center, Oregon Health Sciences University Coauthor(s): Kalpana Kari, MD , Staff Physician, Department of Neurology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Georgetown University; Yash Mehndiratta, MD , Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Howard University Hospital Joseph Quinn, MD, is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology Society for Neuroscience , and Society for Pediatric Radiology Editor(s): Howard A Crystal, MD
Extractions: (advertisement) Synonyms, Key Words, and Related Terms: spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, SCA-1, spinocerebellar ataxia type 2, SCA-2 Background: In 1900, Dejerine and Thomas first introduced the term olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA). Since then, the classification of idiopathic acquired ataxias has evolved a great deal. The initial cases of Dejerine and Thomas involved 2 middle-aged patients with chronic progressive cerebellar degeneration and autopsy findings of gross atrophy of the pons, cerebellum, middle cerebellar peduncle, and inferior olives. OPCA has not been proven to be a single entity. The nosology of these disorders has been extremely confusing, as the OPCAs overlap with spinocerebellar atrophies (SCAs) and multiple system atrophies (MSAs). Clinical distinction of these entities is based on the dominant feature, which may be cerebellar ataxia (observed in OPCA, SCA, and MSA), parkinsonism (observed in MSA), or autonomic failure (observed in MSA). The term OPCA has been retained to describe a form of progressive ataxia distinguished by pontine flattening and cerebellar atrophy on brain imaging studies and at autopsy. Thus defined, OPCA also may qualify as an SCA or as an MSA. While MSAs are sporadic by definition, the genetic bases of the SCAs are increasingly well defined. Since OPCA may exist as a sporadic or inherited disease, categorizing sporadic OPCA as MSA and inherited OPCA as SCA may be appropriate. Differences between sporadic and inherited OPCA in microscopic pathology support this division.
Your Search: NINDS olivopontocerebellar atrophy. Information sheet compiled by National eMedicine olivopontocerebellar atrophy Article by Joseph Quinn, MD. olivopontocerebellar atrophy http://www.i-une.com/cgi-bin/meta/search.cgi?lang=en&keywords=Olivopontocere
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Introduction: Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy - WrongDiagnosis.com Introduction to olivopontocerebellar atrophy as a medical condition including symptoms, diagnosis, misdiagnosis, treatment, prevention, and prognosis. http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/o/olivopontocerebellar_atrophy/intro.htm
Extractions: Feedback Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy: Olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) refers to a group of ataxias characterized by progressive neurological degeneration affecting the cerebellum, the pons and the inferior olives. OPCA may be classified based on clinical, genetic, or neuropathological findings; thus, there are many classifications of the disorder.
Central Nervous System Diseases Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies. About olivopontocerebellar atrophy fact sheet NINDS (US) The OPCA (olivopontocerebellar atrophy) Awareness site - ( CA) olivopontocerebellar atrophy http://www.mic.ki.se/Diseases/c10.228.html
Extractions: Diseases and Disorders Links pertaining to Central Nervous System Diseases Alert! Patients and laypersons looking for guidance among the target sources of this collection of links are strongly advised to review the information retrieved with their professional health care provider. Start Page Contents: Adrenoleukodystrophy Alzheimer Disease Arachnoiditis Brain Abscess ... Zellweger Syndrome Central Nervous System Diseases Nerve Cells [Lodish et al.] - Molecular Cell Biol., Chap 21, via NLM (US) Pathol. Images of the Central Nervous System - Univ of Utah (US) The Human Brain [JD MacArthur] The Global Brainstem '97 , the Cerebellum '97 , the Thalamus '97 , the Spinal Cord '97 - Univ. of Wisconsin (US) Mental Disorders Links
Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy, Hereditary olivopontocerebellar atrophy, Hereditary Important It is possible that the main title of the report olivopontocerebellar atrophy http://my.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/nord495.asp
Extractions: Hereditary olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) is a rare group of disorders characterized by progressive balance problems (disequilibrium), progressive impairment of the ability to coordinate voluntary movements (cerebellar ataxia), and difficulty speaking or slurred speech (dysarthria). There are at least five distinct forms of hereditary OPCA. All forms of hereditary OPCA, except one, are inherited as autosomal dominant traits.
Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy (OPCA) olivopontocerebellar atrophy. What is olivopontocerebellar atrophy? olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) refers to a group of ataxias http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/0300/0326.asp?index=6072&
Show-documents.asp The Cleveland Clinic, olivopontocerebellar atrophy Written Information. Care Treatment. olivopontocerebellar atrophy. New Search1. http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/search/do-query.asp?TopicId=991
Extractions: AllRefer Channels :: Yellow Pages Reference Health Home ... Contact Us Quick Jump ADD/ADHD Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Arthritis Asthma Back Pain Breast Cancer Cancer Colon Cancer Depression Diabetes Gallbladder Disease Heart Attack Hepatitis High Cholesterol HIV/AIDS Hypertension Lung Cancer Menopause Migraines/Headaches Osteoporosis Pneumonia Prostate Cancer SARS Stroke Urinary Tract Infection 1600+ More Conditions Alternative Medicine Health News Symptoms Guide Special Topics ... Medical Encyclopedia Central Nervous System This condition can be inherited but it most commonly affects people without a known family history (sporadic form). Sporadic cases tend to affect people in their 50s while familial cases usually start earlier. The cause of sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophy is not known, but the disease is progressive.
Extractions: AllRefer Channels :: Yellow Pages Reference Health Home ... Contact Us Quick Jump ADD/ADHD Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Arthritis Asthma Back Pain Breast Cancer Cancer Colon Cancer Depression Diabetes Gallbladder Disease Heart Attack Hepatitis High Cholesterol HIV/AIDS Hypertension Lung Cancer Menopause Migraines/Headaches Osteoporosis Pneumonia Prostate Cancer SARS Stroke Urinary Tract Infection 1600+ More Conditions Alternative Medicine Health News Symptoms Guide Special Topics ... Medical Encyclopedia Go To Main Page Alternate Names : Olivopontocerebellar Degeneration, OPCA Many symptoms are associated with olivopontocerebellar atrophy but the predominant feature is progressive ataxia (clumsiness) and difficulties with balance. There may be slurring of speech and difficulty walking. Other symptoms may include:
