Table 1

Differential diagnosis of ‘ataxic neuropathies’

Inherited diseases

  • Friedreich's ataxia

  • Spinocerebellar ataxia with neuropathy

  • Mitochondrial neuropathies: associated with POLG mutations, MIRAS, SANDO, NARP

  • Inherited disorders of fat absorption leading to vitamin E deficiency

Acquired diseases

  • Demyelinating neuropathies: anti-MAG neuropathy, CANOMAD, Miller–Fisher syndrome and pure sensory Guillian–Barré syndrome.

  • Chronic immune sensory polyradiculopathy

  • Sensory ganglionopathy

  • CANOMAD chronic ataxic neuropathy, ophthalmoplegia, IgM paraprotein, cold agglutinin, and diasialosyl antibodies; MAG myelin associated glycoprotein; MIRAS mitochondrial recessive ataxia syndrome; NARP, neuropathy, ataxia and retinitis pigmentosa; SANDO sensory ataxia neuropathy dysarthria and ophthalmoplegia.