Pathologic findings in adrenoleukodystrophy heterozygotes

Two women, heterozygous for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, contained striated adrenocortical cells without inflammation and central nervous system demyelinative lesions. Only one was symptomatic neurologically; neither exhibited hypoadrenalism. These findings further document the variability of adrenoleukodystrophy heterozygotes and provide evidence that the major pathologic differences between hemizygote and heterozygote are quantitative in nature.