Hyporeflexia

Weakened or absent bodily reflexes due to impairment anywhere along the reflex arc, including sensory nerves, spinal cord segments, motor nerves, neuromuscular junctions, or muscles.

Causes

• Peripheral neuropathy

  • Diabetes mellitus

  • Vitamin B12 deficiency

  • Hereditary neuropathies

  • Alcohol-related neuropathy

  • Guillain–Barré syndrome

  • Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)

• Motor neuron and spinal cord causes

  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

  • Spinal cord injury affecting the reflex arc

  • Spinal cord compression

  • Disorders affecting anterior horn cells

• Neuromuscular junction disorders

  • Myasthenia gravis

  • Lambert-Eaton syndrome

  • Botulism

• Endocrine and metabolic causes

  • Hypothyroidism

  • Adrenal insufficiency

  • Electrolyte disturbances affecting neuromuscular function

• Medications causing central nervous system depression

  • Benzodiazepines

  • Lithium

• Severe systemic illness

• Aging-related reduction in reflex responses