Autosomal recessive disorder of lipid metabolism in which deficiency of phytanic acid alpha-hydroxylase results in accumulation of phytanic acid; manifested chiefly by chronic polyneuritis, retinitis pigmentosa, cerebellar ataxia and elevation of protein in cerebrospinal fluid.

Refsum disease is an autosomal recessive neurological disease that results in the over-accumulation of phytanic acid in cells and tissues. It is one of several disorders named after Norwegian neurologist Sigvald Bernhard Refsum (1907–1991)...