The association between Graves disease with hypokalemic periodic paralysis or thymus hyperplasia

Abstract

Objective To explore the relationship between Graves disease and hypokalemic periodic paralysis or thymus hyperplasia.Methods Sixty-two patients with Graves disease were enrolled in this study.Thirty-three patients without thymus hyperplasia were selected as group A and other 29 patients were group B.In addition,30 healthy volunteers served as control group.Results There were no significant difference between group A and group B in terms of sex,age,illness course,thyroid enlargement,exophthalmos,periodic paralysis and the levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3),free thyroxin (FT4),thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) (P ＞ 0.05).The incidence rate of hypokalemic periodic paralysis in male Graves disease with thymus hyperplasia was 62％ (8/13),higher than that in female patients (6％ (1/16),x2 =10.24,P ＜ 0.05).The incidence rate of hypokalemic periodic paralysis in male Graves patients was 62％ (16/26),higher than in female Graves patients (6％ (2/36),x2 =22.96,P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant relationship between Graves disease patients combined with thymus hyperplasia and sex,age,illness course,thyroid enlargement,exophthalmos,periodic paralysis and the levels of FY3,FT4,TSH.Conclusion The incidence rate of hypokalemic periodic paralysis in male Graves disease patients combind with thymus hyperplasia is higher than in female,and therefore it should pay more attention of male Graves patients in case misdiagnosis. Key words: Graves disease; Hypokalemic periodic paralysis; Thymus hyperplasia