Hypokalaemic periodic paralysis (hypoPP) is a dominantly inherited muscle disorder characterized by episodes of flaccid weakness. Previous genetic studies revealed mutations in the voltage-gated calcium channel alpha1-subunit (CACNA1S gene) in families with hypoPP (type I). Electrophysiological studies on these mutants in different expression systems could not explain the pathophysiology of the...

5. Anselm DD, Baranchuk A. Brugada Phenocopy Emerging as a New Concept. Rev Esp Cardiol. 2013;66(9):755. References DOI: 10.5935/abc.20130249 Dear Editor, We read with great interest the case report by Gazzoni et al1 regarding a Brugada ECG pattern induced by hypokalemia. This paper is important because it contributes to the growing body of literature describing Brugada Phenocopies (BrP)2-5. Br...

PURPOSE Familial hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HOKPP) is an autosomal dominant channelopathy characterized by episodic attacks of muscle weakness and hypokalemia. Mutations in the calcium channel gene, CACNA1S, or the sodium channel gene, SCN4A, have been found to be responsible for HOKPP; however, the mechanism that causes hypokalemia remains to be determined. The aim of this study was to im...

The effects of sustained anoxia on cardiac electrical excitability were examined in the anoxia-tolerant crucian carp (Carassius carassius). The electrocardiogram (ECG) and expression of excitation-contraction coupling genes were studied in fish acclimatised to normoxia in summer (+18°C) or winter (+2°C), and in winter fish after 1, 3 and 6 weeks of anoxia. Anoxia induced a sustained bradycardia...

H periodic paralysis (HypoPP), described a recent issue of PNAS by Jurkat-Rott and colleagues (1), has great scientific and clinical interest because its pathophysiology touches on several important properties of skeletal muscle. Besides providing the force for movement, skeletal muscle is an electrically excitable tissue and an important endocrine target organ as the largest protein store for ...

Paramyotonia congenita (PC) is a dominantly inherited skeletal muscle disorder caused by missense mutations in the SCN4A gene encoding the pore-forming alpha subunit (hSkM1) of the skeletal muscle Na+ channel. Muscle stiffness is the predominant clinical symptom. It is usually induced by exposure to cold and is aggravated by exercise. The most prevalent PC mutations occur at T1313 on DIII-DIV l...

congenital myasthenic syndromes (cms) are a group of diseases caused by genetic defects affecting neuromuscular transmission and are heterogeneous in inheritance and pathophysiology. these are classified as: 1. presynaptic defects: including choline acetyl transferase deficiency, paucity of synaptic vesicles, lambert-eaton like cms 2. synaptic defect: endplate ach esterase deficiency 3. postsyn...

BACKGROUND Acute hypokalaemic paralysis is characterised by acute flaccid muscle weakness and has a complex aetiological spectrum. Herein we report, for the first time, a case of unilateral adrenal hyperplasia accompanied by hypokalaemic periodic paralysis type I resulting from a novel dominant mutation in CACNA1S. We present the clinical features and prognosis after adrenalectomy in this case....