Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy An article about olivopontocerebellar atrophy, which involves progressive loss of certain brain structure Category Health Conditions and Diseasesolivopontocerebellar atrophy involves progressive loss of certain brainstructures the cerebellum, the pons, and the inferior olives. http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/921445463.html
Extractions: Subscribe now >> 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. Among the different classifications there is wide variation in severity and age of onset. The symptoms of OPCA differ from person to person. Most patients experience difficulty with balance and coordination of the legs and arms (ataxia) and slurred speech (dysarthria). Other symptoms may include muscle spasms or weakness and stiffness of the muscles; numbness or tingling of the hands or feet; tremor (shaking) of the hand or arm; reduction or slowness of movements; loss of thinking and/or memory skills; difficulty controlling the bladder or bowels; and feeling faint when standing up. Some patients also have fatigue and/or trouble with sleep. Generally symptoms of OPCA begin in mid-adult life and progress slowly over the course of many years. 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.
NINDS Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy Information Page Information sheet compiled by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Category Health Conditions and Diseasesolivopontocerebellar atrophy information sheet compiled by the NationalInstitute 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?
Extractions: document.write(''); (advertisement) Home Specialties CME PDA ... Patient Education Articles Images CME Patient Education Advanced Search Link to this site Back to: eMedicine Specialties Neurology Movement And Neurodegenerative Diseases Last Updated: April 15, 2002 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
MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia: Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy olivopontocerebellar atrophy. The cause of sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophyis not known, but the disease is progressive. Symptoms Return to top. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000758.htm
Extractions: 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:
OPCA Website -OLIVOPONTOCEREBELLAR ATROPHY (ATAXIA) OPCD Our goal is to create awareness. We hope to include stories, links and helpful information. Welcome to our OPCA Website. olivopontocerebellar atrophy / ATAXIA. creating awareness providing support http://www.alyshia.com/opca
NINDS - News And Events Sorry! There are no press releases for olivopontocerebellar atrophy.Use your browser's Back button to return to your previous activity. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/news.htm?url=/health_and_medical/dis
NORD - Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy Offers synonyms, a general discussion and further resources. http://www.stepstn.com/cgi-win/nord.exe?proc=Redirect&type=rdb_sum&id=49
MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia: Topics Beginning With O Oliguria see Urine output decreased; olivopontocerebellar atrophy;Olivopontocerebellar degeneration see olivopontocerebellar atrophy; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/encyclopedia_O.htm
Extractions: Other encyclopedia topics: A-Ag Ah-Ap Aq-Az B-Bk ... Z O'nyong-nyong fever see Dengue fever OA see Osteoarthritis Oak - poison see Poison ivy - oak - sumac injury Obesity Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) OBS see Organic brain syndrome Obsessive-compulsive disorder Obsessive-compulsive neurosis see Obsessive-compulsive disorder Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder Obstetric sonogram see Pregnancy ultrasound Obstetric ultrasonography see Pregnancy ultrasound Obstructed airway see Foreign object aspiration or ingestion Obstruction of the nose see Nasal congestion Obstruction of the ureteropelvic junction see UPJ obstruction Obstructive sleep apnea Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome see Obstructive sleep apnea Obstructive uropathy Obstructive uropathy - bilateral - acute see Acute bilateral obstructive uropathy Obstructive uropathy - bilateral - chronic see Chronic bilateral obstructive uropathy Obstructive uropathy - unilateral - acute see Acute unilateral obstructive uropathy Obstructive uropathy - unilateral - chronic see Chronic unilateral obstructive uropathy Obtundation see Consciousness - decreased Occipital-frontal circumference see Head circumference Occlusion - renal artery see Renal artery stenosis Occlusion - renal vein see Renal vein thrombosis Occupational asthma Occupational bronchitis see Industrial bronchitis Occupational hearing loss OCD see Obsessive-compulsive disorder OCG see Oral cholecystogram Ochronosis see Alkaptonuria Ocular albinism see
Spinocerebellar Atrophy and Thomas first introduced the term olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA). Since then, the classification of idiopathic http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disease/SCA.html
Extractions: PERSONS WITH spinocerebellar atrophy, of which there are several types, experience a degeneration of the spinal cord and the cerebellum, the small fissured mass at the base of the brain, behind the brain stem. The cerebellum is concerned with coordination of movements, so atrophy or "wasting away" of this critical control center results in a loss of muscle coordination. Atrophy in the spine can bring spasticity. The basic defect in all types of spinocerebellar atrophy is a an expansion of a CAG triplet repeat. In this way, it is similar to fragile-X syndrome, Huntington disease and myotonic dystrophy, all of which exhibit a triplet repeat expansion of a gene. In the case of spinocerebellar atrophy I, the gene is SCA1, found on chromosome 6. The protein product of the gene - called ataxin-1 - varies in size, depending on the size of the CAG triplet repeat. A homolog of human ataxin-1 has been found in mice, where it is found on chromosome 13 instead of chromosome 6. The two proteins are highly similar, except that in the mouse, the poly-glutamine tract (coded for by the CAG repeat ) is missing, suggesting that it is not essential for normal function in mice.
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.
OPCA Website...What Is OPCA? CONTENTS. olivopontocerebellar atrophy. What is OPCA? Read about OPCA Read aboutHereditary OPCA Sporadic OPCA What is Sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophy? http://www.alyshia.com/opca/sporadic.html
Extractions: 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
Health Library - Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy olivopontocerebellar atrophy. Disorder Subdivisions. OlivopontocerebellarAtrophy I; Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type I (SCA1); OPCA I; Menzel Type OPCA; http://health_info.nmh.org/Library/HealthGuide/IllnessConditions/topic.asp?hwid=
Re: Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy Subject Re olivopontocerebellar atrophy Forum The Neurology and Neurosurgery ForumTopic Area Ataxia Posted by CCF Neurology MDNT on January 11, 1999 at 20 http://www.medhelp.org/forums/neuro/archive/15044.html
Extractions: : Hello: : Can you tell me what diagnostic test currently are used to diagnose and confirm OPCA? : Thank you very much!! Dear Dave: Cerebellar degenerations (also called spinocerebellar degenerations) can either be sporadic or heredofamilial. Heredofamilial cerebellar degenerations can be either autosomal dominant (various types termed spinocerebellar ataxia = SCA 1 - 7, DRPLA, Machado-Joseph disease, etc) or autosomal recessive (Friedreich's ataxia, and some other rare types). The syndrome of progressive ataxia (imbalance of gait, incoordination of hands, slurred speech), in association with some other characteristic abnormalities (peripheral neuropathy, optic atrophy, retinitis pigmentosa, dementia, corticospinal dysfunction, oculomotor dysfunction, etc) is seen with heredofamilial forms. Ataxia is associated with autonomic dysfunction and/or parkinsonian features in sporadic cases. Either sporadic or autosomal dominant forms of cerebellar degeneration can be associated with atrophy of the cerebellum, pons and inferior olives, either on MRI, or at autopsy. Hence, OPCA (olivopontocerebellar atrophy) is used as a descriptive term for these disorders.
Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy Subject olivopontocerebellar atrophy Topic Area Neurology General Forum TheNeurology and Neurosurgery Forum Question Posted By Sandy Clarke on Monday http://www.medhelp.org/perl6/neuro/archive/15346.html
Extractions: : : Hello: : : Can you tell me what diagnostic test currently are used to diagnose and confirm OPCA? : : Thank you very much!! : Dear Dave: : Cerebellar degenerations (also called spinocerebellar degenerations) can either be sporadic or heredofamilial. Heredofamilial cerebellar degenerations can be either autosomal dominant (various types termed spinocerebellar ataxia = SCA 1 - 7, DRPLA, Machado-Joseph disease, etc) or autosomal recessive (Friedreich's ataxia, and some other rare types). : The syndrome of progressive ataxia (imbalance of gait, incoordination of hands, slurred speech), in association with some other characteristic abnormalities (peripheral neuropathy, optic atrophy, retinitis pigmentosa, dementia, corticospinal dysfunction, oculomotor dysfunction, etc) is seen with heredofamilial forms. Ataxia is associated with autonomic dysfunction and/or parkinsonian features in sporadic cases. Either sporadic or autosomal dominant forms of cerebellar degeneration can be associated with atrophy of the cerebellum, pons and inferior olives, either on MRI, or at autopsy. Hence, OPCA (olivopontocerebellar atrophy) is used as a descriptive term for these disorders.
Health Library - Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy olivopontocerebellar atrophy. Disorder Subdivisions. OlivopontocerebellarAtrophy I; Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type I (SCA1); OPCA I; Menzel Type OPCA; http://www.laurushealth.com/library/healthguide/illnessconditions/topic.asp?hwid
Health Library - Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy Saint Luke's Health System eLibrary. olivopontocerebellar atrophy. OlivopontocerebellarAtrophy I; Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type I (SCA1); OPCA I; Menzel Type OPCA; http://hvelink.saint-lukes.org/library/healthguide/IllnessConditions/topic.asp?h
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 olivopontocerebellar atrophy Written Information. Care Treatment., olivopontocerebellar atrophy. New Search. Health Extra Menu. http://www.clevelandclinic.org/healthextra/do-query.asp?TopicId=991
Extractions: Authors Gilman S. Markel DS. Koeppe RA. Junck L. Kluin KJ. Gebarski SS. Hichwa RD. Institution Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-0316. Title Cerebellar and brainstem hypometabolism in olivopontocerebellar atrophy detected with positron emission tomography. Source Annals of Neurology. 23(3):223-30, 1988 Mar. Abstract Back Topics Clinical Facilities Overview Personnel ... Home
