title: [Hypokalemic myopathy. Our experience at an intensive care unit].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Anestesia e Rianimazione 2. IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Albertario
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ceriana
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scelsi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Geraci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Azan
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Dionigi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mapelli
mesh_terms: 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*
vernacular_title: Miopatia ipokaliemica. Nostra esperienza in un reparto di terapia intensiva.