Electrophysiologic follow-up in Whipple's disease

Neurologic and electrophysiologic findings in a 57-year-old man with Whipple's disease are reported. The patient had severe proximal weakness and weight loss of more than 20 kg. Conventional electromyography and nerve conduction studies suggested mild neuropathy in distal segments of lower limbs and myopathy in proximal muscles. Automatic analysis of the electromyogram in proximal muscles was consistent with myopathy. Conduction velocity of muscle fibers in situ showed low propagation velocity of the impulse. Weakness, weight loss, and all the electrophysiologic parameters improved after treatment, including a compression of the peroneal nerve at the knee, perhaps related to weight loss (slimmer's paralysis).