Li Jia
Diabetes and Endocrinology, Hanchuan People's Hospital, Xiaogan, CHN.
Diabetes and Endocrinology, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, CHN.
Cureus. 2022 Oct 10;14(10):e30160. doi: 10.7759/cureus.30160. eCollection 2022 Oct.
Hypokalemic periodic paralysis has a high risk of life-threatening dysrhythmias. Hyperchloremic acidosis with hypokalemia is a dangerous condition. There are several causes of hypokalemia, in addition to common diseases, such as hyperthyroidism, hyperaldosteronism, and Cushing's syndrome; the other rare diseases include renal tubular acidosis (RTA), Bartter's syndrome, and Gitelman's syndrome. We present an unusual case of hypokalemic periodic paralysis, which was caused by a medullary sponge kidney with distal RTA. The patient had no significant medical history and was not taking any conventional drugs. Investigations demonstrated a combination of hypokalemia, hyperchloremia, metabolic acidosis with a normal anion gap, relatively raised urinary pH, and decreased phosphate level. Results suggested a diagnosis of RTA with secondary hyperparathyroidism. After potassium citrate replacement and correction of acidosis, the patient's condition was in remission. This case highlights the rare etiology of hypokalemia and the need to actively search for the pathogenesis of unexplained hypokalemia to avoid delaying the condition.
低钾性周期性麻痹有发生危及生命的心律失常的高风险。伴有低钾血症的高氯性酸中毒是一种危险状况。低钾血症有多种病因,除了常见疾病,如甲状腺功能亢进、醛固酮增多症和库欣综合征外;其他罕见疾病包括肾小管酸中毒(RTA)、巴特综合征和吉特林综合征。我们报告一例罕见的低钾性周期性麻痹病例,其由伴有远端肾小管酸中毒的髓质海绵肾引起。该患者无显著病史,未服用任何常规药物。检查显示低钾血症、高氯血症、正常阴离子间隙的代谢性酸中毒、尿pH相对升高以及磷酸盐水平降低。结果提示诊断为继发性甲状旁腺功能亢进的肾小管酸中毒。经枸橼酸钾替代治疗和酸中毒纠正后,患者病情缓解。该病例突出了低钾血症的罕见病因以及积极探寻不明原因低钾血症发病机制以避免病情延误的必要性。