Liver Transplantation as a Treatment for Severe Refractory Vitamin E Deficiency Related to Progressive Familial...

Refractory vitamin E deficiency is thought to have irreversible effects on neurologic function. We report an adolescent boy with severe refractory vitamin E deficiency due to progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) type 2. His consequent neurologic dysfunction included severe ataxia, dysmetria, dysarthria, and cranial nerve VI palsy. He underwent liver transplantation at age 13 due to his neurologic dysfunction; and afterward, he had marked improvement in neurologic function. We demonstrate that in a patient with PFIC 2 and severe refractory vitamin E deficiency, liver transplant can improve vitamin E absorption, prevent further neurological sequelae, and reverse prior neurologic dysfunction.