Severe hypophosphataemia mimicking Guillain-Barré syndrome.
A 42 year-old woman presented with neurological symptoms suggestive of Guillain-Barré syndrome and required ventilatory support. She was found to have severe hypophosphataemia that was corrected promptly after which her trachea was extubated. She then revealed that she had undergone a prolonged religious fast and had just started eating again when her symptoms started. Over the next 2 weeks she made a complete recovery.
Sebastian
S
S
Manor Hospital, Walsall, UK. sibyseb@yahoo.com
Clarence
D
D
Newson
C
C
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005215:Fasting / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005502:Food / Q000009:adverse effects; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D017674:Hypophosphatemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology