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Metabolic and neurologic sequelae in a patient with long‐standing anorexia nervosa who presented with septic shock and deep hypoglycemia
Author(s) -
de Jager Corine M.,
Hoekstra Miriam,
Nijsten Maarten W. N.,
Lansink Annemieke Oude,
Ismael Farouq
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.20863
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , hypoglycemia , septic shock , shock (circulatory) , medicine , psychology , pediatrics , psychiatry , sepsis , eating disorders , surgery , insulin
Objective: To report the case of a 48‐year female with chronic remitting anorexia nervosa who was found comatose at home and admitted to our hospital with a deep hypoglycemia (glucose level 0.6 mmol/L; 11 mg/dL) and septic shock secondary to a bilateral pneumonia. Method: Case report. Results: After admission to the critical care unit, she further displayed a number of pronounced complications known to be associated with anorexia, including hypophosphatemia, disturbed liver functions and depression of all three hematological cell lines. The neurological recovery of the patient was complicated by encephalopathy and transient tetraparesis. With initial deep hypoglycemia at presentation and persisting coma, magnetic resonance imaging performed 5 days later did not demonstrate characteristic post‐hypoglycemic abnormalities. Neuroradiological examination did however reveal the presence of extensive calcifications in the basal ganglia known as Fahr's syndrome. Discussion: The potential relation between anorexia nervosa and Fahr syndrome has not been described before. The fact that this patient survived a glucose level that is usually associated with a very poor outcome is probably related to its special origin. © 2010 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2010)