Nonneurological Involvement in Late-Onset Friedreich Ataxia (LOFA): Exploring the Phenotypes

Friedreich’s ataxia (FDRA) is the most common inherited ataxia worldwide, caused by homozygous GAA expansions in the FXN gene. Patients usually have early onset ataxia, areflexia, Babinski sign, scoliosis and pes cavus, but at least 25 % of cases have atypical phenotypes. Disease begins after the age of 25 in occasional patients (late-onset Friedreich ataxia (LOFA)). Little is known about the frequency and clinical profile of LOFA patients. One hundred six patients with molecular confirmation of FDRA and followed in three Brazilian outpatient centers were enrolled. General demographics, GAA expansion size, age at onset, cardiac, endocrine, and skeletal manifestations were evaluated and compared between LOFA and classic FDRA (cFDRA) groups. We used Mann–Whitney and Fisher tests to compare means and proportions between groups; p values