Kwashiorkor: an unexpected complication to anorexia nervosa. (15th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Palm, Camilla Viola Buskbjerg; Frølich, Jacob Stampe; Snogdal, Lena Sønder; Støving, René Klinkby
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 2016
• Publication Date: 2016-11-15
• Subjects: Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2016-215638
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : We present the case of a woman aged 48 years, diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (AN) at the age of 12. She was admitted to a highly specialised eating disorder facility with distended abdomen, muscular atrophy, ulcerative dermatitis, electrolyte derangements and low serum albumin. Her weight was 53.1 kg, corresponding to a body mass index (BMI) of 17.9 kg/m 2 . After initial stabilisation, a therapeutic ascites puncture relieved the patient from 6500 mL of ascites. After 6 weeks of nutritional and diuretic treatment, the patient was discharged with a weight of 46.8 kg (BMI 15.7 kg/m 2 ), without ascites and with healed ulcerations. The condition was consistent with kwashiorkor, a complication to malnutrition rarely seen in AN.