Purgative abuse associated with reversible cachexia, hypogammaglobulinaemia, and finger clubbing.
Laxative abuse may cause systemic and metabolic changes, but cachexia has not been reported as a predominant feature. A patient with finger clubbing and extreme wasting recovered when senna intake was stopped and nutritional care provided. A diagnosis had been made of acquired common variable hypogammaglobulinaemia with absence of circulating B lymphocytes. The immunological abnormalities were corrected after senna intake was stopped and lean body mass restored.
D000361:Agammaglobulinemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D001835:Body Weight; D002100:Cachexia / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017099:IgG Deficiency; D008875:Middle Aged; D010005:Osteoarthropathy, Secondary Hypertrophic / Q000139:chemically induced; D012676:Senna Extract; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation
D012676:Senna Extract