 Friedreich ataxia FRDA is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of children and adults for which there is presently no therapy. One of the hallmarks of FRDA is a deficiency of frataxin protein, causing dysregulation of iron metabolism, lack of detoxification, and increased iron bioavailability. The accumulation of iron in mitochondria leads to increased sensitivity to oxidative stress. A secondary inflammatory response has also been proposed to be present in FRDA, as revealed in autopsy studies and in the alteration of immune pathways in microarray analysis. Inflammation in FRDA raises the possibility of a therapeutic benefit from anti-inflammatory steroid treatment, as inflammation may directly underlie multiple complications of FRDA including cardiomyopathy. In support of this theory are clinical observations and patient self-reports of improvement of ataxia symptoms following the prescription of steroids for indications other than the primary FRDA diagnosis. 