RISK-FACTORS FOR IDIOPATHIC CEREBELLAR-ATAXIA OF LATE-ONSET

In an attempt to identify risk factors for the development of idiopath ic cerebellar ataxia (IDCA) we performed a case-control study of 59 ID CA patients. Hypertension and medicine intake were less frequent in ID CA than in neurological controls. Multiple logistic regression yielded an odds ratio (OR) for hypertension of 0.13 (95% confidence interval: 0.00-1.02, P=0.0527) and medicine intake of 0.10 (95% confidence inte rval: 0.00-0.72, P=0.0157). In contrast, we did not identify an associ ation of IDCA with a number of medical diseases, head trauma, smoking, alcohol intake, rural living and well-water drinking. Some of these f actors have been previously shown to be associated with other neurodeg enerative diseases. In addition, serum antibody titers against neurotr opic viruses were not elevated in IDCA. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.