Anorexia nervosa, liquorice and hypokalaemic myopathy.
A patient with a past history of anorexia nervosa developed a hypokalaemic myopathy following a 'flu-like illness. Although she was apparently in remission from anorexia nervosa, the diet was found to be markedly abnormal with an excessive ingestion of liquorice and a low potassium salt intake. The clinical features and investigations, including muscle biopsy, are described. The patient is compared, with 2 reported cases of liquorice-induced myopathy, and the relationship between anorexia nervosa, liquorice and hypokalaemic myopathy is discussed.
D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006035:Glycyrrhiza; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000209:etiology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*