COQ4 Mutation Leads to Childhood-Onset Ataxia Improved by CoQ10 Administration

Cerebellum. 2019 Jun;18(3):665-669. doi: 10.1007/s12311-019-01011-x.

Abstract

Loss of function mutations in COQ4 lead to fatal neonatal mitochondrial disorders with CoQ10 deficiency. In two siblings with childhood-onset, slowly progressive ataxia from a consanguineous mating from Turkey, whole exome sequencing identified homozygous missense mutations in COQ4 (Gly55Val). Blood levels of CoQ10 were either below or at the low end of the normal range. The more severely affected of the siblings was given a high dose of CoQ10 (2000 mg/day) for one month, following which significant improvement in neurological signs and symptoms was noted. Our report indicates that COQ4 mutations are a rare cause of ataxia and that CoQ10 supplementation is a personalized treatment for this form of ataxia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cerebellar Ataxia / drug therapy*
  • Cerebellar Ataxia / genetics*
  • Cerebellar Ataxia / physiopathology
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / pathology
  • Mitochondrial Diseases / drug therapy
  • Mitochondrial Diseases / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / drug effects
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiopathology
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Ubiquinone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Ubiquinone / therapeutic use

Substances

  • COQ4 protein, human
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Ubiquinone
  • coenzyme Q10