Copper Deficiency Misdiagnosed as Postpolio Syndrome

Symptoms of progressive weakness and pain after years of stability are common in survivors of paralytic poliomyelitis. These symptoms been coined the postpolio syndrome. In the majority of patients, this condition is stable and benign. Here, a case of copper deficiency as a result of excessive zinc supplementation is presented, mimicking the post polio syndrome. This case highlights the importance of a thorough medical history and evaluation in polio survivors when they present with new progressive deficits. Postpolio syndrome remains a diagnosis of exclusion and is a benign entity in most patients. Common and atypical features of the postpolio syndrome are reviewed. In the appropriate clinical setting, a diagnosis of copper deficiency should be considered and may be confirmed with the proper serologic testing.