Aetiological, clinical and metabolic profile of hypokalaemic periodic paralysis in adults: a single-centre experience.

Rao, Narsing; John, Mathew; Thomas, Nihal; Rajaratnam, Simon; Seshadri, Mandalam Subramaniam

Aetiological, clinical and metabolic profile of hypokalaemic periodic paralysis in adults: a single-centre experience.

Date

2006-09-06

Authors

Seshadri, Mandalam Subramaniam

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hypokalaemic periodic paralysis constitutes a heterogeneous group of disorders that present with acute muscular weakness. In this analysis, we discuss the aetiological factors that appear to be more common in the Indian population. METHODS: From 1995 to 2001, 31 patients presented with periodic paralysis (mean age 34.5 years, range 11-68 years). Of the 31 patients, 19 were men. The clinical and laboratory data of these patients were analysed. Patients were investigated for possible secondary causes of hypokalaemla. RESULTS: There were 13 patients (42%) with renal tubular acidosis, 13 with primary hyperaldosteronism (42%), 2 each with thyrotoxic periodic paralysis and sporadic periodic paralysis, and I with Gitelman syndrome. Of the 13 patients with renal tubular acidosis, 10 had proximal and 3 distal renal tubular acidosis. Three of these patients with renal tubular acidosis had Sjogren syndrome. The patients diagnosed to have renal tubular acidosis had significantly lower serum bicarbonate (18.7 [14.6] v. 29.6 [5.0] mEq/L; p < 0.05) and higher levels of chloride (107.5 [6.0] v. 99.5 [3.4] mEq/L; p < 0.05) compared with those who had primary hyperaldosteronism, although the potassium values were similar (2.4 [0.65] v. 2.26 [0.48] mEq/L; p = 0.43). All patients with primary hyperaldosteronism had hypertension at presentation and were proven to have adrenal adenomas. CONCLUSION: A significant number of patients in this study had secondary and potentially reversible causes of hypokalaemic periodic paralysis. The common causes were renal tubular acidosis and primary hyperaldosteronism. A detailed work-up for secondary causes should be undertaken in Indian patients with hypokalaemic periodic paralysis.

Citation

Rao N, John M, Thomas N, Rajaratnam S, Seshadri MS. Aetiological, clinical and metabolic profile of hypokalaemic periodic paralysis in adults: a single-centre experience. National Medical Journal of India. 2006 Sep-Oct; 19(5): 246-9