Case 6-2003

Abstract

Presentation of CaseA nine-year-old right-handed girl from the United Arab Emirates was admitted to the hospital because of progressive weakness and areflexia.The patient had been well until three months earlier, when a gait difficulty developed. A physician diagnosed a vitamin deficiency, and treatment was instituted but without benefit. One month later, progressive weakness and a slapping gait developed; she was unable to walk on her toes and could barely rise from a full squat. Another physician found that she had both proximal and distal weakness in the arms and legs, that the reflexes were absent throughout, and that . . .