Severe respiratory phenotype caused by a de novo Arg528Gly mutation in the CACNA1S gene in a patient with hypokalemic periodic paralysis

Abstract

Hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HOKPP) is a rare disorder characterized by episodic muscle weakness with hypokalemia. Mutations in the CACNA1S gene, which encodes the alpha 1-subunit of the skeletal muscle L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel, have been reported to be mainly responsible for HOKPP. The paralytic attacks generally spare the respiratory muscles and the heart. Here, we report the case of a 16-year-old boy who presented with frequent respiratory insufficiency during the severe attacks. Mutational analysis revealed a heterozygous c.1582C > G substitution in the CACNA1S gene, leading to an Arg528Gly mutation in the protein sequence. The parents were clinically unaffected and did not show a mutation in the CACNA1S gene. A de novo Arg528Gly mutation has not previously been reported. The patient described here presents the unique clinical characteristics, including a severe respiratory phenotype and a reduced susceptibility to cold exposure. The patient did not respond to acetazolamide and showed a marked improvement of the paralytic symptoms on treatment with a combination of spironolactone, amiloride, and potassium supplements.