title: Neurologic complications of anorexia nervosa.
abstract: The records of 100 patients with anorexia nervosa were reviewed. Neurologic complications were present in 47 patients. Neuromuscular abnormalities were most common and were present in 45% of patients. Generalized muscle weakness was detected in 43% of patients and peripheral neuropathies in 13%. Less common neurologic complications included headaches (6%), seizures (5%), syncope in the absence of orthostatic hypotension (4%), diplopia (4%), and movement disorders (2%). Neurologic problems due to chronic deficiency diseases were rare; only one patient had symptoms directly attributable to a vitamin B12 deficiency and none had evidence of Wernicke's encephalopathy. In most patients, the neurologic complications were reversed completely after correction of nutritional deficiencies and fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington 40536-0084.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Patchell
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Fellows
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Humphries
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology