Hypokalaemia and paralysis

Severe hypokalaemia with paralysis induced by small doses of liquorice.

A patient, who presented with a flaccid quadriplegia due to profound hypokalaemia, is described. Hypokalaemia and myoglobinuria were caused by the ingestion of small amounts of liquorice contained in a laxative preparation. Subsequent controlled administration of small amounts of this preparation induced marked hypokalaemia. This was associated with sodium retention and potassium loss confirmin...

Paralysis due to renal hypokalaemia: an unusual presentation of leptospirosis.

antihypertensive agent was given intravenously and the procedure and recovery was uneventful. We do agree that MTP and tumor excision should have been done simultaneously or tumor excision before MTP but the patient due to personal reasons had initially refused surgical excision of tumor. Only after developing hypertensive crisis she and her relatives realized the severity of her disease and we...

Hypokalaemia.

OBJECTIVE To review the metabolism and function of potassium and causes and management of hypokalaemia. DATA SOURCES A review of studies reported from 1966 to 1998 and identified through a MEDLINE search of the English-language literature of hypokalaemia. SUMMARY OF REVIEW Potassium is predominantly an intracellular ion that contributes to approximately 50% of the intracellular fluid osmola...

Psychogenic vomiting and hypokalaemia.

Chronic hypokalaemia and nephrocalcinosis

Unravelling chronic hypokalaemia can be a clinical challenge in some patients. History and physical examination can be misleading or inaccurate. Diagnostic steps usually involve assessing urinary potassium excretion, transtubular potassium gradient (TTKG) and concomitant acid–base disturbances. In those patients with low urinary potassium excretion, a gastrointestinal cause for the hypokalaemia...