Acquired Spinocerebellar Ataxia (Celiac Disease)

Spinocerebellar ataxias are inherited as autosomal dominant or recessive. But some of the ataxias are treatable and secondary to metabolic, endocrine and nutritional causes. One such disease is celiac disease with variable gastro intestinal skin and neurological manifestation.The sensitivity to gluten occurs and it may produce antibodies and malabsorption of vitamins. The antibodies may further involve in immune reactions to cause ataxia. Cases are reported since 1966 by cooke and smith and the incidence is 1 in 105 to 1 in 1150.(1)