Other disorders presenting with spastic paraparesis (e.g. abetalipoproteinemia, funicular myelosis, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, lues, adrenoleucodystrophy, etc.)were excluded after an extensive diagnostic work-up that included brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, nerve conduction and evoked potentials studies, electromyography (EMG), electroencephalography (EEG), serum vitamin B12 and E levels, serum arylsulphatase, galactocerebrosidase and very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) levels, HTLV-1 antibodies, HIV and syphilis serology. The gene discussed is GALC; the disease is abetalipoproteinemia.