Myotonia induced by potassium repletion in a diabetic patient with secondary hypokalemic paralysis.

Abstract

In a woman suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, hypokalemic paralysis developed acutely following an episode of diabetes decompensation. During the treatment of this episode, as soon as serum potassium levels were restored to normal values, a marked increase in muscular excitability with an electromyographic picture of myotonia was observed. The patient showed signs of chronic muscle denervation that accounted for an increased sensitivity to potassium-induced depolarization and contraction and that might have been responsible for the appearance of myotonia during potassium repletion.

• Authors: P Bertora, M R Caccia, A Mangoni
• Journal: European neurology (Eur Neurol) Vol. 34 Issue 6 Pg. 341-3 ( 1994) ISSN: 0014-3022 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 7851457 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Potassium

Topics

• Adult
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 (blood, complications)
• Female
• Humans
• Hypokalemia (blood, drug therapy, etiology)
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Myotonia (chemically induced)
• Paralysis (drug therapy, etiology)
• Potassium (administration & dosage, adverse effects, blood)