Premium
Neurologic complications of anorexia nervosa
Author(s) -
Patchell R.A.,
Fellows H. A.,
Humphries L. L.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1994.tb01645.x
Subject(s) - medicine , anorexia nervosa , headaches , diplopia , orthostatic vital signs , pediatrics , muscle weakness , encephalopathy , weakness , neurological disorder , epilepsy , surgery , central nervous system disease , eating disorders , psychiatry , blood pressure
The records of 100 patients with anorexia nervosa were reviewed. Neurologic complications were present in 47 patients. Neuromuscuiar abnormalities were most common and were present in 45% of patients. Generalized muscle weakness was detected in 43% of patients and peripheral neuropathies in 13%. Less common neurologic complications included headaches (6%), seizures (5%), syncope in the absence of orthostatic hypotension (4%), diplopia (4%), and movement disorders (2%). Neurologic problems due to chronic deficiency diseases were rare; only one patient had symptoms directly attributable to a vitamin B 12 deficiency and none had evidence of Wernicke's encephalopathy. In most patients, the neurologic complications were reversed completely after correction of nutritional deficiencies and fluid and electrolyte imbalances.