Blind loop syndrome, vitamin E malabsorption, and spinocerebellar degeneration.

A 72-year-old man had severe malabsorption, progressive retinopathy, and spinocerebellar degeneration 32 years after gastric surgery, blind loop formation, and intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Clinical and pathologic features were typical of vitamin E deficiency; vitamin E was nearly undetectable in serum and profoundly low in adipose tissue. Vitamin E blood levels initially improved on treatment with antibiotics; after additional vitamin E supplementation, there was clinical improvement.