HYPOPHOSPHATEMIA-INDUCED NEUROPATHY - CLINICAL AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICFINDINGS

Severe hypophosphatemia has rarely been reported as a cause of acute p aralysis. We present the clinical and electrophysiological findings on a patient who developed quadriparesis following several surgeries for complicated cholecystectomy. The paralysis was most likely the result of severe hypophosphatemia causing a neuropathy which improved readil y after proper phosphate replacement. The possible pathogenic mechanis ms of hypophosphatemic neuropathy are discussed. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.