Hypophosphatemia-induced neuropathy: clinical and electrophysiologic findings.

Severe hypophosphatemia has rarely been reported as a cause of acute paralysis. 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 readily after proper phosphate replacement. The possible pathogenic mechanisms of hypophosphatemic neuropathy are discussed.