A woman with cerebellar ataxia and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism

Abstract

A 26-year-old woman with primary amenorrhea in association with hypergonadotropinism, and lacking a vagina and uterus, suffered from a gradually progressive gait disturbance in her adolescence. The patient has no family history of ataxia and a chromosome study showed a normal karyotype (46,XX). Using the revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale, her cognitive function was measured as that of a normal adult, however, neurological examination revealed symptoms of scanning speech, horizontal gaze-evoked nystagmus, and ataxia. Bulging eyes, high-arched palate, scoliosis and ventricular septal defect were also observed. A brain MRI showed atrophy of the cerebellum. A 123I-IMP brain SPECT study showed hypoperfusion in the cerebellum. Previous studies show that among patients with cerebellar ataxia and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, some show an autosomal recessive inheritance, while others have no family history. As a cause, a chromosomal abnormality is unlikely because all reported karyotypes were normal. This case is different from other reported cases in that she is not mentally impaired or deaf. The present case indicates that there is a close relationship between cerebellar ataxia and hypogonadism, and that other symptoms such as deafness and mental impairment could be an additional variable in patients with cerebellar ataxia and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism.