Adrenoleukodystrophy presenting as spinocerebellar degeneration.

The clinical features of 3 patients from a kindred with adrenoleukodystrophy and the analysis of their plasma sphingomyelin are described. Onset of symptoms was between the ages of 33 and 54 years. Ataxic gait and spasticity were the only symptoms noted during the early stage of the disorder. Dementia and optic atrophy were present in two of the cases. Baseline plasma cortisol was normal, but adrenocorticotropic hormone was elevated. Analysis of plasma sphingomyelin demonstrated an increase in very-long-chain (C24-C26) fatty acid. This study demonstrates that adrenoleukodystrophy may present with spinocerebellar symptoms.