Tropical ataxic myelopathy.

A syndrome of ataxic myelopathy with optic atrophy and perceptive deafness has been described. This is essentially similar to the Nigerian ataxic myelopathy which has been ascribed to chronic cyanide intoxication through dietary means. The results of biochemical investigations and bone marrow examination indicate that neither vitamin B12 deficiency nor cyanide intoxication are likely factors in the detiology of our cases. It is possible that the disease may be due to an unrecognized toxic for factor which may or may not be of dietary origin.