Abstract
BackgroundProfound hypokalemia with paralysis usually poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. MethodsWe report on a 28-y-old obese Chinese female presenting with sudden onset of flaccid quadriparesis upon awaking in the morning. There is no family history of hyperthyroidism. She experienced body weight loss of 7kg in 2months. ResultsThe most conspicuous blood biochemistry is marked hypokalemia (1.8mmol/l) and hypophosphatemia (0.5mmol/l) associated with low urine K+ and phosphate excretion. Surreptitious laxatives and/or diuretics abuse-related hypokalemic paralysis were tentatively made. However, her relatively normal blood acid–base status and the absence of low urine Na+ and/or Cl− excretion made these diagnoses unlikely. Furthermore, she developed rebound hyperkalemia (5.7mmol/l) after only 80mmol K+ supplementation. Thyroid function test confirmed hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease. Control of the hyperthyroidism completely abolished her periodic paralysis. ConclusionsThyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) should be kept in mind as a cause of paralysis in female, even with obesity, despite its predominance in adult males.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
