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 ex ercise. There was severe wasting and proximal muscle weakness in the l egs and bilateral weakness of eye closure. A purpuric rash developed d ue to vitamin C deficiency. This case demonstrates a new neurological sign in anorexia nervosa indicating a weakness of the orbicularis ocul i muscles as part of a more general myopathy. The myopathic and scorbu tic features may have a common pathogenesis. (C) 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.