[Hypokalemic myopathy. Our experience at an intensive care unit].
Disturbances of potassium homeostasis are frequently iatrogenic: some drugs, especially diuretics, are sometimes taken without proper electrolyte control and replacement; this can lead to more or less severe hypokalemic states. After some physiopathologic remarks, the Authors report their experience with four patients admitted for severe hypokalemia; the clinical picture was always quite typical: severe muscle weakness (even quadriparesis), cardiac rhythm abnormalities, metabolic alkalosis. A reliable diagnostic tool is muscle biopsy that shows aspects of vacuolar myopathy.
Albertario
F
F
Servizio di Anestesia e Rianimazione 2. IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia.
Ceriana
P
P
Scelsi
R
R
Geraci
P
P
Azan
G
G
Dionigi
R V
RV
Mapelli
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*
Miopatia ipokaliemica. Nostra esperienza in un reparto di terapia intensiva.