Machado-Joseph disease, also known as spinocerebellar ataxia 3, is a progressive, degenerative nervous system disorder affecting the cerebellum, brain stem, basal ganglia, thalamus and cerebral cortex. It is characterized by varying degrees of motor and non-motor symptoms and is caused by a mutation in the ATXN3 gene located on chromosome 14.
Presentation
Machado-Joseph disease, also known as spinocerebellar ataxia 3, (MJD/SCA3) is a rare disease characterized by varied phenotypic features and progressive neurodegeneration. It is caused by a trinucleotide repeat expansion (CAG) related to the mutation in the ATXN3 gene located at chromosome 14q32.1 [1]. Clinical presentation consists of motor, as well as, non-motor manifestations. Motor manifestations are noticed initially between the age of 30 and 40 years and they include cerebellar ataxia, gait instability, incoordination of limb movements, and intentional tremor [2]. Spasticity is a common feature with lower limbs being more frequently affected [2]. Later, other motor problems like dysphagia, dysarthria, and truncal ataxia start to develop. Diplopia is a common ocular complaint [2]. Dystonia and parkinsonism are two movement disorders which are frequently noticed in MJD/SCA3 along with peripheral neuropathy, tactile and proprioceptive hypoesthesia [3] [4] [5]. Non-motor manifestations include chronic pain, cramps, fatigue, sleep disorders, and depression, while autonomic symptoms like nocturia, urinary incontinence, cold intolerance and hypohidrosis may also be present [6]. A majority of MJD/SCA3 patients have excessive daytime sleepiness with impaired nocturnal sleep [7], insomnia [8], and restless legs syndrome. Sleep disorders are seen more frequently in older adults with a long-standing disease. About half of the patients complain of chronic pain, especially in the lumbar region [9]. Minor cognitive and behavioral difficulties, but not frank dementia, are noticed in MJD/SCA3 patients [10].
Three types of MJD/SCA3 have been identified with onset and severity being their differentiating features:
- Type I MJD/SCA3 has an early onset in the 1st to the 3rd decades with a rapid progression. It is characterized by spastic dystonia, ataxia, athetosis, ophthalmoplegia, and exophthalmos. Mental and intellectual abilities are most frequently normal.
- Type II MJD/SCA3 has an onset between the 2nd and 5th decade with a slower progression. Ataxia and limb incoordination are its characteristic features along with spasticity.
- Type III MJD/SCA3 presents between the 4th and 7th decades, has the slowest progression and is characterized by ataxia with muscular atrophy and motor polyneuropathy. Analgesia, paresthesia, incoordination and diabetes are other common features of this type.
Entire Body System
- Weakness
Despite much effort, a 74 year old man with progressive proximal weakness and sensory disturbances due to axonal neuropathy remained a diagnostic problem. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
The damage to the cerebellum initially causes muscular weakness and progresses over time to a total lack of voluntary control and very significant permanent physical disability. [dailymail.co.uk]
- Rigor
Recommendations for straightforward and rigorous methods of counting neurons based on a computer simulation approach. J Chem Neuroanat 2000 ; 20 : 93 –114. Schöls L, Vieira‐Saecker AM, Schöls S, Przuntek H, Epplen JT, Riess O. [academic.oup.com]
This review followed recommendations for rigorous systematic reviews.7,8 In order to identify as many relevant studies as possible and reduce the risk of publication bias, a highly sensitive search strategy was used and an extensive range of resources [jamanetwork.com]
Gastrointestinal
- Muscle Rigidity
The drugs L- dopa and baclofen may relieve muscle rigidity and spasticity. [rarediseases.org]
Levodopa is a drug used to treat muscle rigidity and tremor which are symptoms similar to those involved in Parkinson?s disease. [manchesterneurophysio.co.uk]
Treatment Although there is no cure for Machado-Joseph disease, some symptoms can be relieved, The medication Levodopa or L-dopa often succeeds in lessening muscle rigidity and tremors, and is often given in conjunction with the drug Carbidopa. [encyclopedia.com]
Musculoskeletal
- Muscular Atrophy
Abstract The CAG trinucleotide repeats in mRNAs for the responsible genes of Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA), and X-linked spinal and bulbal muscular atrophy (SBMA) were examined in various neural and nonneural [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Type II features ataxia and ocular signs; Type III features MUSCULAR ATROPHY and a sensorimotor neuropathy; and Type IV features extrapyramidal signs combined with a sensorimotor neuropathy. [hon.ch]
- Muscle Spasm
Stiffness (rigidity) Type II (MJD-II) Between 20-50 years of age Symptoms worsen gradually over time Continuous, uncontrolled muscle spasms (spasticity) Difficulty walking due to muscle spasms (spastic gait) Poor reflexes Type III (MJD-III) Between [rarediseases.about.com]
Ocular myopathy, facial and tongue muscle spasm and exophthalmos are characteristic manifestations of SCA-3/MJD. [nrronline.org]
- Leg Weakness
Symptoms MJD is characterized by many symptoms, among these are: Clumsiness Arm and leg weakness Spasticity - continuous, uncontrollable muscle contractions. [slideshare.net]
Eyes
- Diplopia
The diplopia in SCA3/MJD cases is, therefore, attributed, at least in part, to the impairment of the vergence eye movements. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Diplopia is a common ocular complaint. Dystonia and parkinsonism are two movement disorders which are frequently noticed in MJD/SCA3 along with peripheral neuropathy, tactile and proprioceptive hypoesthesia. [symptoma.com]
[…] of age Symptoms slowly worsen over time Muscle twitching Numbness, tingling, cramps, and pain in the hands, feet, arms, and legs (neuropathy) Loss of muscle tissue (atrophy) Many individuals with MJD also have vision problems such as double vision (diplopia [rarediseases.about.com]
Most have double (diplopia) or blurred vision, loss of color vision, and inability to regulate eye movements. Some have Parkinson-like symptoms. There may be sleep disturbance, cramps, and urinary bladder dysfunction. [sci.rutgers.edu]
Symptoms Vision problems: Bulging eyes Double vision (diplopia) Blurred vision Loss of ability to distinguish color and/or contrast Involuntary eye movements Supranuclear opthalmoplegia – the inability to voluntarily move the eyes in all directions 14 [slideshare.net]
- Visual Impairment
Clinical features included heredity compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance, spasticity, increased tendon reflexes, mask-like face, visual impairment, nuclear ophthalmoparesis, and exophthalmos in addition to progressive ataxia. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
impairments, opthalamoplegia and limb ataxia do not typically continue to worsen. [6] As symptoms continue to progress, MJD becomes increasingly debilitating. [physio-pedia.com]
- Abnormal Eye Movement
This patient had a 4-year medical history mainly presenting severe ataxia, abnormal eye movement and pyramidal signs. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Familial cerebellar ataxia, dystonia and abnormal eye movements in a non-portuguese family. Neurology 1979, 29:559. [ Links ] 16. Healton EB, Brust JCM, Kerr DL, Resor S, Penn A. Presumably azorean disease in a presumably non-portuguese family. [scielo.br]
Neurologic
- Ataxia
PALAVRAS-CHAVE: ataxia espinocerebelar, doença de Machado-Joseph, paraplegia espástica hereditária. Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) is the most common autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia 1. [scielo.br]
The non-MJD group consisted of three patients with familial episodic ataxia type 2 (EA-2), two with SCA6, two with undiagnosed autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia, and four with sporadic cerebellar ataxia. [jnnp.bmj.com]
MJD is an autosomal dominant hereditary ataxia [11], [12], which was first identified in Portuguese Azoreans [13]. MJD accounts for 42-48% of autosomal dominant hereditary ataxias [14]. [nrronline.org]
[…] type 3 (SCA-3) is the most common dominant ataxia. [clinicaltrials.gov]
Hereditary ataxias. Myo Clin Proc. 2000;75:475-90. Koeppen AH. The hereditary ataxias. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 1998;57:531-43. JOURNAL ARTICLES Subramony SH, Hernandez D, Adams A, et al. [rarediseases.org]
- Cerebellar Ataxia
cerebellar ataxia strongly suggests the diagnosis of MJD. [jnnp.bmj.com]
From Wikidata Jump to navigation Jump to search autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia that is characterized by slow degeneration of the hindbrain and has material basis in expansion of CAG triplet repeats (glutamine) in the ATXN3 gene Azorean disease [wikidata.org]
Recently, there have been a few reports of its potential role in the treatment of cerebellar ataxia. We report the first case of a patient with Machado-Joseph disease in which we successfully treated cerebellar ataxia. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Nakano and colleagues described the Machado family, with an AD, late onset, cerebellar ataxia with peripheral neuropathy. [eanpages.org]
- Nystagmus
In the five non-MJD patients standard caloric testing elicited nystagmus. The presence of caloric induced nystagmus made the irrigation of ice water unnecessary. [jnnp.bmj.com]
The frequency of nystagmus was calculated for the 3 groups. RESULTS: Nystagmus was present in 88% of the MJD patients. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
- Tremor
One-year before admission she started with tremor in the lower limbs. Her father died at the age of 56 years due to an undiagnosed progressive neurological disease that suggested parkinsonism. General physical examination was normal. [scielo.br]
[…] the increased levels of Beclin-1, Atg7, and LC3-II, and a reduction in the p62 protein levels, lithium administration showed no overall beneficial effects in this model concerning motor performance, showing a positive impact only in the reduction of tremors [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Tremor in SCA-12 might respond to medications used for essential tremor. SCA12 is caused by a repeat expansion. If both genes have 4-32 repeats, then the individual does not have SCA12. [ataxiacenter.umn.edu]
- Postural Instability
We report a patient presenting at age 16 years with postural instability and falls who developed severe generalized dystonia by the age of 20 years. He was the product of a consanguineous marriage. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Clinical features include progressive ataxia, DYSARTHRIA, postural instability, nystagmus, eyelid retraction, and facial FASCICULATIONS. DYSTONIA is prominent in younger patients (referred to as Type I Machado-Joseph Disease). [hon.ch]
Workup
Clinical presentation of MJD/SCA3 resembles other neurologic disorders like Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. Therefore diagnosis based on clinical features, family history, and genetic testing, requires an experienced neurologist for interpretation. A family history of neurological disorders should be inquired about during the preliminary interview. Predictive genetic testing in the absence of symptoms can be performed in suspected cases with a positive family history [11]. During the physical examination, gaze-evoked nystagmus, abnormal saccades, decreased smooth pursuit gain, impaired vestibulo-ocular reflex, and supranuclear vertical gaze palsy may be noticed [12]. Lid retraction and decreased blinking may lead to the appearance of “bulging eyes" which is characteristic of MJD/SCA3 [2]. The diagnostic test to detect MJD/SCA3 is the direct determination of the number of abnormal CAG triplets in the DNA of affected patients using genetic testing which is available in specialized laboratories.
Neuroimaging studies like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) help to demonstrate the extent of neural degeneration. MRI may be normal in the early stages of MJD/SCA3 but typical findings include brainstem and cerebellar atrophy [10]. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) studies of the brain have shown poor perfusion in the parietal lobes, inferior portion of the frontal lobes, medial and lateral portions of the temporal lobes, basal ganglia, and cerebellar hemispheres and vermis [13]. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of the deep white matter has demonstrated changes indicative of axonal dysfunction, although MRI in the same study did not reveal any abnormalities [14].
Treatment
Finally, engagement of at risk or presymptomatic individuals in future trials will enable major advances on treatment research for SCA3/MJD. KEYWORDS: Clinical trials; Machado-Joseph disease; SCA3; Study design; Treatment [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Prognosis
In the last one decade, the intensive scientific research devoted to the SCAs is resulting in clear advances and a better understanding on the genetic and nongenetic factors contributing to their pathogenesis which are facilitating the diagnosis, prognosis [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Read More Read Less Prognosis Prognosis The types and severity of symptoms vary among these ataxias. Spinocerebellar ataxia is progressive, meaning the symptoms worsen with time. [ninds.nih.gov]
Prognosis Prognosis is poor but patients have been reported to survive for decades after onset of symptoms. [orpha.net]
Prognosis The frequency with which such genetic mutations trigger the clinical onset of disease is known as penetrance. [encyclopedia.com]
Etiology
Etiology The disease is caused by CAG repeat expansion mutations in the ATXN3 gene (14q21). Patients with this subtype of SCA3 tend to have larger CAG expansions than those with other subtypes. [orpha.net]
Etiology OWRD (ie, HHT) is a disorder that is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, [23, 24] though 20% of patients are unaware of a positive family history, partly because the lesions may be minimal and because 10% of patients have no episodes [emedicine.medscape.com]
Epidemiology
Epidemiology. Population based epidemiological studies on SCA are scarce, with few data on the incidence or prevalence of each SCA subtype. [eanpages.org]
The correlation between the epidemiological representation of MJD in each district and the frequency of small, medium and large normal alleles was not significant. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Summary Epidemiology The prevalence of this form of MJD is not known. It accounts for 13% of all SCA3 cases. Clinical description Onset is generally early (mean of 24 years) and symptoms progress rapidly. [orpha.net]
Machado-Joseph disease: epidemiology, genetics and genetic epidemiology. In: Lechtenberg R, ed. Handbook of Cerebellar Diseases. New York, NY: Marcel Decker; 1993:345-351 5. Sequeiros J, Coutinho P. [doi.org]
Pathophysiology
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article provides a description on clinical features and pathophysiology of the main sleep disorders observed in Machado-Joseph disease (MJD). [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
We postulate that Pisa syndrome may be explained by pathophysiological mechanisms observed in Machado-Joseph disease, such as basal ganglia and dopaminergic pathway dysfunction. [mdsabstracts.com]
Trinucleotide repeats: mechanisms and pathophysiology. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet. 2000;1:281-328. Evidente VG, Gwinn-Hardy KA, Caviness JN, et al. Hereditary ataxias. Myo Clin Proc. 2000;75:475-90. Koeppen AH. The hereditary ataxias. [rarediseases.org]
Prevention
Present treatments are symptomatic and do not prevent disease progression. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
References
- Kawaguchi Y, Okamoto T, Taniwaki M, et al. CAG expansions in a novel gene for Machado-Joseph disease at chromosome 14q32.1. Nat Genet. 1994;8:221–228
- Coutinho P. Doença de Machado-Joseph: Estudo Clínico, Patológico e Epidemiologico de uma Doença Neurológica de Origem Portuguesa. Porto, Portugal: Tipografia Nunes Ltda; 1994.
- Rosenberg RN. Machado-Joseph disease: an autosomal dominant motor system degeneration. Mov Disord. 1992;7:193–203.
- Jardim LB, Pereira ML, Silveira I, Ferro A, Sequeiros J, Giugliani R. Neurologic findings in Machado-Joseph disease: relation with disease duration, subtypes, and (CAG)n. Arch Neurol. 2001;58:899–904.
- Klockgether T, Schols L, Abele M, et al. Age-related axonal neuropathy in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3/MJD). J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1999;66:222–224.
- Yeh TH, Lu CS, Chou YH, et al. Autonomic dysfunction in Machado-Joseph disease. Arch Neurol. 2005;62:630–636.
- Friedman JH, Fernandez HH, Sudarsky LR. REM behavior disorder and excessive daytime somnolence in Machado-Joseph disease (SCA-3) Mov Disord. 2003;18:1520–1522.
- D’Abreu A, Franca MC Jr, Conz L, et al. Sleep symptoms and their clinical correlates in Machado-Joseph Disease. Acta Neurol Scand. 2009;119(4):277–280.
- Franca MC Jr, D’Abreu A, Friedman JH, Nucci A, Lopes-Cendes I. Chronic pain in Machado-Joseph disease: a frequent and disabling symptom. Arch Neurol. 2007;64:1767–1770.
- D'Abreu A, Franca MC, Paulson HL, Lopes-Cendes I. Caring for Machado-Joseph disease: current understanding and how to help patients. Parkinsonism Relat. Disord. 2010;16(1):2
- Cannella M, Simonelli M, D’Alessio C, et al. Presymptomatic tests in Huntington’s disease and dominant ataxias. Neurol Sci. 2001;22:55–56.
- Gordon CR, Joffe V, Vainstein G, Gadoth N. Vestibulo-ocular arreflexia in families with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (Machado-Joseph disease) J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2003;74:1403–1406.
- Etchebehere EC, Cendes F, Lopes-Cendes I, et al. Brain single-photon emission computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in Machado-Joseph disease. Arch Neurol. 2001;58:1257–1263.
- D’Abreu A, França M, Jr, Appenzeller S, et al. Axonal Dysfunction in the Deep White Matter in Machado-Joseph Disease. J Neuroimaging. 2009;19(1):9-12.