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Hypophosphataemia, delirium and cardiac arrhythmia in anorexia nervosa
Author(s) -
Beumont Pierre J V,
Large Matthew
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1991.tb93887.x
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , delirium , complication , medicine , cardiac arrhythmia , refeeding syndrome , anorexia , pediatrics , anesthesia , malnutrition , intensive care medicine , eating disorders , psychiatry , atrial fibrillation
Objective: To draw attention to the occurrence of hypophosphataemia in anorexia nervosa and to suggest that it may be a factor contributing to cardiac arrhythmia, a potentially fatal complication. Design: A retrospective study of patients under the consultant care of one of us. All were adolescent girls or young women aged 14 to 31. Clinical course: During the index admission, three became acutely hypophosphataemic while receiving saline and potassium intravenously to correct hypokalaemia. Four patients were subsequently treated with phosphate supplementation. Two patients died, and three recovered. Conclusion: Hypophosphataemia in anorexia nervosa patients may play a role in the development of cardiac arrhythmia and delirium.