vitamin B12 vitamin E deficiency symptoms qn!

[tarsuc]

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A 16 year old Caucassian male is evaluated for progressive gait instability and dyarthria. His brother died of a neurologic disease at age 21. MRI of the brain and spine shows degeneration of the posterior column and spinocerebellar tracts. This patient's condition(Friedrichs Ataxia) is most closely mimicked by which of the following?

A. Lead intoxication
B. Vitamin E deficiency
C. Thiamine deficiency
D. Vitamin B12 deficiency
E. Prion disease
F. Polio myelitis
G. Acute intermittant porphyria

WHy is the answer B and not D, considering D is more common?

 

[Rac65]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Familial_isolated_vitamin_E_deficiency

Genetics.

 

[tarsuc]

dang! thanks a lot! 🙂

So b12 def presentation is the same right? Just to confirm!
thanks again!

 

[Rac65]

"Could it be?" is a question format you'll never meet on the boards, anything could be anything.
It has always been and will remain about the ability to recognize the "most likely".

Edit: you've edited your post 🙁, and yes - the presentation in terms of isolated neurological deficits is similar.

 

[tarsuc]

😀 so true!

 

[wanderer]

Vit.E is more associated with cerebellar tract findings.