Table 1. Clinical features of FRDA.

System	Pathology	Clinical result
Neurological	Degeneration of large sensory neurones – proprioception	Loss of balance and coordination
		Loss of deep tendon reflexes
	Degeneration of spinocerebellar tracts (dorsal)	Loss of balance and coordination
	Degeneration of dentate nucleus of the cerebellum	Loss of balance and coordination
		Dysarthria (slurred speech)
		Eye movement abnormalities (modest)
	Degeneration of corticospinal tracts	Spasticity, pyramidal weakness
Visual	Degeneration of retinal ganglion cells	Optic neuropathy
Auditory	Degeneration of auditory nerve	Auditory neuropathy
Cardiac	Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, with early hypertrophy, later fibrosis	ECG abnormalities
		Arrhythmias
		Progressive heart failure
Endocrine	Loss of pancreatic islet cells	Diabetes mellitus
	Increased insulin resistance	Diabetes mellitus
Orthopedic	Scoliosis
	Pes cavus (fixed plantar foot flexion; high arched feet)

Abbreviation: ECG, electrocardiogram.