Slimmer's paralysis--peroneal neuropathy during weight reduction.

Ten patients developed peripheral neuropathy while on a reducing diet. One of the patients sustained a severe polyneuropathy attributable to thiamine deficiency. Nine developed unilateral peroneal paralysis. Electromyography revealed bilateral abnormalities in three of these patients. The neuropathy could not be attributed to any factor other than weight reduction. In contrast to previous reports suggesting a compressive aetiology, the present observations indicate that metabolic disturbances are the cause of the disorder.