Copper Deficiency-Induced Neuropathy After Bariatric Surgery Disguised as Demyelinating Disease: A Case Report

Neuropathy may arise from many different etiologies - from diabetes and nerve compression to viral infections and chemotherapy side effects; many patients suffer from neuropathic symptoms. While some etiologies produce irreversible neuropathy, others, such as vitamin and mineral deficiencies, lead to a possibly reversible disease process once treated. General clinicians should strive for early and prompt diagnosis of copper deficiency neuropathy whenever possible, especially in patients with normal vitamin B12 levels who present with a subacute gait disorder or prominent sensory ataxia. We present a case of a 73-year-old female with a surgical history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) 20 years prior, who presented with difficulty with ambulation due to sensory ataxia and bilateral, ascending, sensory neuropathy, who was diagnosed with acquired copper deficiency-induced myeloneuropathy.