Acute quadriparesis with mucle spasms related to electrolyte disturbances in steatorrhea. Clinical and biochemical data

Neurologic manifestations of gastrointestinal disease

Although previously considered rare, neurologic manifestations of gastrointestinal diseases are increasingly recognized. Understanding of Whipple disease and gluten sensitivity is in transition and these conditions are becoming the province of neurologists. Recent improvements in diagnostic testing have improved our understanding and case finding for vitamin B12 deficiency. Many patients with these conditions present with neurologic manifestations alone. Therefore, these conditions are becoming the province of neurologists, and neurologic manifestations of gastrointestinal disease are becoming a more common part of neurologic practice.

Bilateral femoral neck fractures as a result of coeliac disease

An elderly patient presenting with severe tetany secondary to hypocalcaemia causing bilateral fractures of the femoral necks, was proved to have coeliac disease. Severe muscle pains, an organic mental syndrome and personality changes are rare complications of coeliac disease and are reversible with treatment.

Degeneration of the central nervous system associated with celiac disease

The following report describes a 57-year-old man with celiac disease who developed a progressive and fatal neurologic disorder despite intensive medical and nutritional care. The clinical and pathological CNS findings in this patient are compared with those of 9 previously reported patients with well documented celiac disease in whom a progressive CNS disorder was carefully studied both pre-and postmortem. An entity of CNS degeneration associated with celiac disease appears to emerge from the study of these 10 cases. This disorder affects predominantly the cerebellum, deep gray masses, certain brain stem nuclei, and spinal cord; its cause and pathogenesis are unknown.