Severe axonal neuropathy resulting from folic acid deficiency in a case with restrictive type anorexia nervosa.

Abstract

An adolescent patient with eating disorder and three months history of severe weight loss presented with signs of neuropathy. She had severe symmetrical weakness of proximal and distal muscles and electromyography revealed axonal type sensorimotor neuropathy. Serum folic acid level was low (1.5 ng/ml; normal values 5-16 ng/ml). Although peripheral neuropathy is a rare late complication of anorexia nervosa, clinicians dealing with anorexia nervosa should be aware that peripheral neuropathy may also develop in the early course of disease.