Spinocerebellar ataxia in a cohort of patients from Rio de Janeiro.

Objective: The objective of this study is to describe the first series of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) in Rio de Janeiro, whose population has a high proportion of mixed Portuguese and African ancestry.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients with progressive ataxia evaluated at the Sarah Network of Rehabilitation Hospitals (Rio de Janeiro). Clinical course, genetic tests for hereditary ataxia, brain MRI, and electroneuromyography were analyzed.