cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis

Definition: a metabolic disorder associated with deposition of cholestanol and cholesterol in the brain and other tissues; plasma cholestanol level is high but plasma cholesterol level is normal; characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia beginning after puberty, cataracts, spinal cord involvement, premature atherosclerosis, and tendinous or tuberous xanthomata; due to a defect in hepatic mitochondrial sterol 27-hydroxylase in bile acid biosynthesis; autosomal recessive inheritance, caused by mutation in the gene involved in cytochrome P-450 in the C27 position (CYP27) on chromosome 2q.

Search Stedman's Medical Dictionary