[Folic acid deficiency with leukoencephalopathy and chronic axonal neuropathy of sensory predominance].

A 44-year-old, alcoholic, woman developed a prolonged folate deficiency with a chronic predominantly axonal sensory polyneuropathy. The cerebral CT and MRI revealed a diffuse, clinically asymptomatic, leukoencephalopathy. A partial improvement of the neurological symptoms was observed after two months of oral administration of folate. Neurological complications of folate deficiency are rare and similar to those observed in cobalamin deficiency. Both cobalamin and folate deficiencies may interfere with the synthesis of the central myelin. This case report illustrates the possibility to observe a leukoencephalopathy due to folate deficiency, in association with the classical polyneuropathies and/or subacute combined degenerations of the spinal cord.