ISOLATED VITAMIN-E-DEFICIENCY

A 22-year-old man presented with progressive gait instability, tremor, and dysarthria since childhood. Electrophysiologic studies revealed a sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Laboratory studies documented vitamin E deficiency; however, no gastrointestinal, hepatic, or lipoprotein diso rder could be identified, Vitamin E therapy normalized the serum level , but there was no neurologic improvement. Isolated vitamin E deficien cy, in the absence of lipid malabsorption, should be considered in the evaluation of children and adults with ataxia and peripheral neuropat hy. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.