Quick Information Card

Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by:

• progressive neurologic degeneration with ataxia, eye movement abnormalities, dysarthria and impaired swallowing,
• immunodeficiency with lymphopenia and hypogammaglobulinemia of varying severity (from which some patients have antibody deficiency and receive gammaglobulin therapy),
• predisposition to a wide variety of cancers (lymphoma and leukemia most common, especially in children),
• telangiectasia (often present), especially over the sclerae. In rare instances, telangiectasia can cause complications in bladder, brain, and other organs.

Diagnostic X-Rays and CT Scans in A-T

People with A-T have an increased sensitivity to ionizing radiation (x-rays and gamma rays).

• X-rays should be performed only when the result will affect medical management.
• If a patient with A-T has fever, cough, and breath sounds characteristic of pneumonia, a diagnosis of pneumonia can be made clinically and antibiotics can be prescribed without x-ray confirmation. If symptoms persist despite antibiotics, a follow-up chest x-ray may be useful.
• Routine screening dental x-rays should be avoided, but an x-ray to evaluate tooth pain is reasonable.
• In order to keep radiation to a minimum, patients should receive frontal view chest radiographs or radiation-sparing techniques for CT (e.g. fewer CT images per scan).
• There is no contraindication to MRI or ultrasound investigation.

Management of Acute Infection

A-T patients are predisposed to upper and lower respiratory tract infections because of immunodeficiency, aspiration, and impaired cough.

• Use of antibiotics should be considered for treatment of upper or lower respiratory tract infections that are severe, accompanied by fever, or persist for greater than 7 days.
• Precautions should be taken to reduce the risk of aspiration during respiratory illnesses.

Preoperative Evaluation and Surgery

A preoperative evaluation of lung function should be performed in all A-T patients regardless of age and whether or not they have chronic respiratory symptoms.

• Children and adults with A-T may have difficulty coming off the ventilator after surgery or other procedures requiring general anesthesia.
• Possible alternatives to general anesthesia and strategies that maximize airway clearance following anesthesia should be considered.
• Following placement of a gastrostomy tube, enteral feedings should be advanced with caution.