GALOP syndrome: case report with 7-year follow-up

An elderly woman complaining of a gait disorder was found to have the GALOP syndrome (gait ataxia, late-onset polyneuropathy). She exhibited mild distal weakness and sensory loss in the legs, a positive Romberg, and an unsteady gait. Serum immunofixation disclosed a monoclonal IgM-kappa protein. There was specific IgM binding to galopin, a central nervous system white matter antigen. Periodic treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin has alleviated her neurologic symptoms. She has now been followed for 7 years and maintained significant improvement in neurologic symptoms and signs.