Abstract
Here I report a 29-year old woman who presented with acute ascending paralysis and required mechanical ventilation due to severe hypokalaemia. She was found to have normal anion gap metabolic acidosis due to distal renal tubular acidosis. She had American College of Rheumatology classification criteria compatible with diagnosis of latent Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). She was successfully treated with potassium citrate and sodium bicarbonate supplementation. The case is noteworthy as an atypical presentation of SLE.
Highlights
Hypokalaemia is a recognized cause of acute paralysis
Normal anion gap metabolic acidosis secondary to distal renal tubular acidosis leads to severe hypokalaemia
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder of unknown aetiology which may affect any organ of the body
Summary
Normal anion gap metabolic acidosis secondary to distal renal tubular acidosis leads to severe hypokalaemia. Connective tissue disorders can cause secondary distal renal tubular acidosis. We report on a rare presentation of latent SLE with acute ascending paralysis due to severe hypokaelemia secondary to distal renal tubular acidosis.
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