Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34743220›Full record

SynthesisJournal of neurology2022

Pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of spinocerebellar ataxia: A systematic review.

Kah Hui Yap, Shahrul Azmin, Jemaima Che Hamzah, Norfazilah Ahmad, Bart van de Warrenburg, Norlinah Mohamed Ibrahim

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of neurology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 28 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
28citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

28 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
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  5. Pooled it
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Treatment of primary adult-onset neurodegenerative cerebellar ataxias.Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics · 2026
    Review
  9. Physiotherapy in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Following COVID-19: A Biomechanical and Biopsychosocial Case Report.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy · 2026
    Article
  10. Changes in Gait After Training for Individuals With Cerebellar Ataxia.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translation · 2025
    Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Review
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Review
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Kah Hui YapDepartment of Medicine, UKM Medical Centre, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Shahrul AzminDepartment of Medicine, UKM Medical Centre, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Jemaima Che HamzahDepartment of Ophthalmology, UKM Medical Centre, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Norfazilah AhmadDepartment of Community Health, UKM Medical Centre, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Bart van de WarrenburgDepartment of Neurology, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Norlinah Mohamed IbrahimDepartment of Medicine, UKM Medical Centre, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. norlinah@ppukm.ukm.edu.my.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6684-7488

Funding

dana impak perdana DIP-2019-007
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) comprise a rare, genetic subgroup within the degenerative ataxias and are dominantly inherited, with up to 48 recognized genetic subtypes. While an updated review on the management of degenerative ataxia is published recently, an evidence-based review focussed on the management of SCA is lacking. Here, we reviewed the pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of SCA by conducting a systematic review on Medline Ovid and Scopus. Of 29,284 studies identified, 47 studies (pharmacological: n = 25; non-pharmacological: n = 22) that predominantly involved SCA patients were included. Twenty studies had a high risk of bias based on the Cochrane's Collaboration risk of bias tool. As per the European Federation of Neurological Societies 2004 guideline for therapeutic intervention, the remaining 27 studies were of Class I (n = 4) and Class II (n = 23) evidence. Only two therapies had Level A recommendations for the management of ataxia symptoms: riluzole and immediate in-patient neurorehabilitation. Ten therapies had Level B recommendations for managing ataxia symptoms and require further investigations with better study design. These include high dose valproate acid, branched-chain amino acid, intravenous trehalose; restorative rehabilitation using cycling regimen and videogame; and cerebellar stimulations using transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation. Lithium and coaching on psychological adjustment received Level B recommendation for depressive symptoms and quality of life, respectively. Heterogeneous study designs, different genotypes, and non-standardized clinical measures alongside short duration and small sample sizes may hamper meaningful clinical translation. Therefore, rating of recommendations only serve as points of reference.

Indexed as

Cerebellar AtaxiaSpinocerebellar AtaxiasTranscranial Direct Current StimulationAtaxiaHumansQuality of LifeManagementPharmacologicalRehabilitationSpinocerebellar ataxiaSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID34743220

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.