Acute hypokalemia as a possible cause of death in a patient with advanced muscular dystrophy.
A patient with advanced muscular dystrophy of the Duchenne type developed severe hypokalemia thought to be secondary to moderate gastro-intestinal losses in association with reduced intracellular potassium stores. With correction of the hypokalemia, the cardiac rhythm became more normal. In patients with advanced dystrophy, hypokalemia may be functionally significant.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D004733:Enema / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000150:complications*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000150:complications