Non-hypertrophic familial neuropathy associated with intention tremor. A variety of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease?

A family with an association of sensorimotor neuropathy and intention tremor is reported. Clinical examination of 3 affected family members showed in varying degrees areflexia, muscle wasting, impairment of deep sensation with an ataxic gait, pes cavus and disabling intention tremor. Motor nerve conduction velocities were moderately slowed. A superficial peroneal nerve biopsy showed axonal degeneration without segmental demyelination or onion bulb formation. Our observation seems to indicate an association of intention tremor with the non-hypertrophic variety of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. It can therefore be suggested that the two classical types of Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome possess variants which are associated with intention tremor. This association is well-known for the hypertrophic type; our report gives an example of the non-hypertrophic type.