Neuromyopathic complications in a patient with anorexia nervosa and vitamin C deficiency.
A 19-year-old female patient with anorexia nervosa developed profound weight loss over 1 year associated with vegetarianism and excessive exercise. There was severe wasting and proximal muscle weakness in the legs and bilateral weakness of eye closure. A purpuric rash developed due to vitamin C deficiency. This case demonstrates a new neurological sign in anorexia nervosa indicating a weakness of the orbicularis oculi muscles as part of a more general myopathy. The myopathic and scorbutic features may have a common pathogenesis.
Woodruff
P W
PW
Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom.
Morton
J
J
Russell
G F
GF
D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001767:Blinking / Q000502:physiology; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*