Thyrotoxic Hypokalaemic Periodic Paralysis:  Four New Case In Turkish Population

Aylin Akçalı; Remzi Yiğiter; Şebnem Aktaran; Sırma Geyik; Derya Sayar; Mustafa Yılmaz; Münife Neyal

Aylin Akçalı¹, Remzi Yiğiter¹, Şebnem Aktaran², Sırma Geyik³, Derya Sayar³, Mustafa Yılmaz¹, Münife Neyal¹

¹Department Of Neurology, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey
²Department Of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology Unit, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey
³Neurology Clinic, 25 Aralık State Hospital, Gaziantep, Turkey

Keywords: Thyrotoxicosis, periodic paralysis, hypokalaemia

Abstract

Scientific BACKGROUND: Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is an uncommon disease and characterized by muscle weakness, hypokalaemia and high levels of thyroid hormones. Although it is frequently seen in Asian populations, it has also been reported in Caucasians. Ionic channel defects seen in hereditary periodic paralysis are not detected in TPP.

Patients and METHODS: Clinical and laboratory findings of 4 TPP patients were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 40.5 years. Three out of four patients were male and one was female. Three of them were presented with quadriparesis and one with paraparesis. One of the patients with quadriparesis was not diagnosed with TPP previously, although he had experienced 10 attacks in a year. A mean dose of 45 mEq KCl was applied intravenously to the patients and the symptoms began to resolve over 9.3 hour period. The patient who had 10 attacks showed 4/5 proximal muscle strength in all four extremities.

CONCLUSION: Medical history and laboratory investigation is very important for diagnosis of thyrotoxic paralysis. The treatment of thyrotoxicosis prevents the attacks of TPP.