Background:The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence and etiology of acquired
ataxia in Al-Kharga district, New Valley, Egypt.
Methods:A population-based study of acquired ataxia was conducted in a defined geographical
region with a total population of 62,583. A door-to-door survey was used to identify cases of
acquired cerebellar ataxia. Patients with acquired cerebellar ataxia at any age and of both genders
were included. Cases of known inherited cerebellar ataxia, acquired neurological disorders with
ataxia as a minor feature, or pure acquired sensory ataxia, were excluded.
Results:We identified 17 cases of acquired ataxia, of which eight were vascular, six were an
ataxic cerebral palsy subtype, and three involved postencephalitic ataxia. The crude prevalence
rate for acquired ataxia was 27.16/100,000 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.3–40.1). The mean
age of the patients at interview was 31.8 (range 4–72) years, with a male to female ratio of 2.1:1.
The most frequent presenting complaint was disturbance of gait (90.7%). The majority (92%)
were ambulatory, but only 9.3% were independently self-caring.
Conclusion:This population-based study provides an insight into acquired cerebellar ataxia
within a defined region, and may inform decisions about the rational use of health care resources
for patients with acquired cerebellar ataxia. The most common causes of acquired cerebellar
ataxia in this region were cerebrovascular injury and cerebral palsy.