Open AccessHypophosphataemic neuropathy during total parenteral nutrition
Author(s) -
Yohei Iguchi,
Keiko Mori,
Haruki Koike,
Kazuo Mano,
Yoji Goto,
Takashi Kato,
T Nakano,
Gen Sobue
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr.08.2008.0718
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , peripheral neuropathy , atrophy , anesthesia , hypophosphatemia , neurology , sural nerve , guillain barre syndrome , surgery , pediatrics , endocrinology , diabetes mellitus , psychiatry
Intravenous glucose administration is the most common cause of hypophosphataemia in hospitalised patients. While most of these cases are asymptomatic, severe hypophosphataemia, when combined with phosphorus depletion, can cause acute neuropathy that mimics Guillain-Barré syndrome. A malnourished patient who received intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH) without intravenous phosphate (IP) developed hypophosphataemia and acute sensorimotor neuropathy. F waves in the peripheral nerve trunk were absent or diminished, while nerve conduction velocities were nearly normal. The sural nerve biopsy revealed the presence of some subperineurial oedema and mild axonal atrophy. Prompt IP administration reversed the patients' neurological symptoms and normalised F waves. Our data suggest that hypophosphataemia plays a role in the pathogenesis of neuropathy that develops in patients following IVH without IP.