Hypokalaemic paralysis due to Sjögren’s syndrome

Abstract

Acute generalized weakness has a wide differential diagnosis that includes neurologic, metabolic, and infectious aetiologies. Acute hypokalaemic paralysis is a rare but treatable cause of acute weakness. We present a 23-year old lady, with history of sudden difficulty getting up from recumbency. Her initial investigations revealed hypokalemia with non- anion gap metabolic acidosis and alkaline urine. Minor salivary gland biopsy confirmed the diagnosis to be Sjögren’s syndrome.