1. Thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis is a rare but potentially fatal emergency: case report and literature review.
- Author
-
Gómez-Torres JY, Bravo-Llerena WE, Reyes-Ortiz LM, Valderrábano-Wagner RJ, Mariano-Mejías V, Brunet-Rodríguez H, and Lemos-Ramírez JC
- Subjects
- Adrenergic beta-Antagonists therapeutic use, Adult, Antithyroid Agents therapeutic use, Electrocardiography, Emergencies, Graves Disease diagnosis, Graves Disease drug therapy, Hong Kong ethnology, Humans, Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis blood, Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis drug therapy, Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis ethnology, Ion Transport, Male, Methimazole therapeutic use, Neurologic Examination, Potassium metabolism, Potassium Chloride therapeutic use, Propranolol therapeutic use, Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase metabolism, Stress, Psychological complications, Thyrotoxicosis drug therapy, Graves Disease complications, Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis etiology, Thyrotoxicosis etiology
- Abstract
We report a case of a 39 year-old Asian man in whom profound lower limb paralysis, along with severe hypokalemia and electrocardiographic changes, were the presenting features of Graves' disease (GD)-related thyrotoxicosis. Rapid recognition and management of the disorder were the key factors to avoid fatal hypokalemia-induced cardiac arrhythmias and promptly restore patient's capacity to ambulate.
- Published
- 2011