Oropharyngeal dysphagia and aspiration in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia

Objectives: To determine whether patients with ataxia-telangiectasia exhibit oropharyngeal dysphagia with concomitant aspiration and to examine the relationships among swallowing function, age, and nutritional status. Study design: Seventy patients (mean age, 10.7 years; range,: 1.8 to 30 years) had feeding/swallowing and nutritional evaluations. Fifty-one patients, in whom there were concerns about swallowing safety, were examined with a standardized videofluoroscopic swallow study. Results: Fourteen of the 51 patients (27%) with histories suggestive of dysphagia demonstrated aspiration. Of these, silent aspiration (aspiration without a cough) occurred in 10 (71%) patients. Aspirators were significantly older than non-aspirators (mean age, 16.9 vs 10.8 years; P = .002). Advancing age was the strongest factor associated with aspiration during continuous drinking (P = .01). In patients with ataxia-telangiectasia, weight and weight/height were abnormally low at all ages and most compromised in older patients. Patients who aspirated had significantly lower mean weighs (P < .002) and weight/height z scores (P < .001) than did patients who did not aspirate. Conclusions: Oropharyngeal dysphagia is common and appears to be progressive in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia. Older patients also have a higher incidence of poorer nutritional status. The relationship between dysphagia and nutritional status deserves further investigation.