FRIEDREICHS-ATAXIA - A NEUROCARDIAC DISEASE

Friedreich's ataxia (FA) represents a degenerative, genetically determ ined disease of the nervous system in combination with myocardial affe ction and in some cases endocrinological disturbances. Manifestation o f myocardial involvement usually follows symptoms of nervous system de generation later in the course, but seems not to be secondary. These c ardiac disturbances are the main cause of death in FA-patients. Therap eutic management of heart disease is possible and interdisciplinary ne urologic-cardiologic cooperation should start early in the course of F A.