Increased iron in the dentate nucleus of patients with Friedreich's ataxia

Friedreich's ataxia (FA) is the most frequently inherited ataxia. To test t he hypothesis that iron is increased in the cerebellum of patients with FA, we developed a multigradient echo magnetic resonance sequence for the thre e-dimensional imaging of brain icon-induced contrast. Relaxation rate (R2*) values in the unaffected globus pallidus were equal in FA patients and con trols, although R2* values in the dentate nucleus of patients were signific antly higher, which is most likely due to increased iron.