Article

AIM: To investigate ataxia rating scales in children for reliability and the
effect of age and sex.
METHOD: Three independent neuropaediatric observers
cross-sectionally scored a set of paediatric ataxia rating scales in a group of
52 healthy children (26 males, 26 females) aged 4 to 16 years (mean age 10y 5mo
SD 3y 11mo). The investigated scales involved the commonly applied International
Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS), the Scale for Assessment and Rating of
Ataxia (SARA), the Brief Ataxia Rating Scale (BARS), and PEG-board tests. We
investigated the interrelatedness between individual ataxia scales, the influence
of age and sex, inter- and intra-observer agreement, and test-retest reliability.
RESULTS: Spearman's rank correlations revealed strong correlations between ICARS,
SARA BARS, and PEG-board test (all p<0.001). ICARS, SARA, BARS and PEG-board test
outcomes were age-dependent until 12.5, 10, 11, and 11.5 years of age
respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) varied between moderate
and almost perfect (interobserver agreement: 0.85, 0.72, and 0.69; intraobserver
agreement: 0.92, 0.94, and 0.70; and test-retest reliability:
0.95, 0.50, and
0.71; for ICARS, SARA, and BARS respectively). Interobserver variability
decreased after the sixth year of life. INTERPRETATION:
In healthy children,
ataxia rating scales are reliable, but should include age-dependent
interpretation in children up to 12 years of age.
To enable longitudinal
interpretation of quantitative ataxia rating scales in children, European paediatric normative values are necessary.
CI - (c) 2014 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS