Sporadic hypothyroidism-related hypokalemic paralysis: Diagnosis in a resource-poor setting

Abstract

Hypothyroidism and distal renal tubular acidosis causing hypokalemic paralysis (HP) have been described only in four female patients. HP as the initial manifestation of uncomplicated diabetes has been reported only in three young males. We report two middle-aged patients presenting with gradual-onset areflexic quadriparesis and neck flop, associated with urinary potassium losses, and recovering over 3 days. The male patient with alcohol abuse had urine pH >5.5 and hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis due to renal tubular acidosis and hypothyroidism. The second, a hypertensive female, had metabolic alkalosis, hypomagnesemia, and diabetes mellitus diagnosed at admission. Both these patients improved with intravenous and oral potassium supplementation.

Keywords

• Diabetes mellitus
• hypokalemic paralysis
• hypothyroidism
• renal tubular acidosis