Late-Onset Friedreich's Ataxia (LOFA) Mimicking Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Type 2: What Is Similar and What Is Different?

Herein, we report a patient that presented with late-onset progressive steppage gait, neuropathy and pes cavus, suggesting Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. Subsequent genetic investigation confirmed Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA). We demonstrate that late-onset Friedreich's ataxia (LOFA) may be a CMT mimicker. This case reinforces that other genetic conditions may clinically resemble CMT. The clinical similarities between CMT and FRDA include a symmetrical neuropathy (axonal in FRDA), steppage gait, and eventually scoliosis. We suggest that late-onset forms of hereditary neuropathies should be carefully evaluated, since LOFA may be a CMT mimicker.