title: Rhabdomyolysis associated with hypokalaemic periodic paralysis of renal tubular acidosis.
abstract: Two cases of hypokalaemia with serum potassium levels of 1.4 mmol/L and 1.9 mmol/L causing severe periodic paralysis since childhood are presented. There were associated with muscular aches and markedly raised muscle enzymes suggesting massive rhabdomyolysis. These abnormalities were due to renal tubular acidosis with markedly acidic arterial pH. The hypokalaemia and rhabdomyolysis responded to potassium and bicarbonate replacement. We postulate these patients had sporadic distal type of renal tubular acidosis and that the hypokalaemia and acidosis had caused the rhabdomyolysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hanip
authors.forename: I K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Khalid
mesh_terms: D000141:Acidosis, Renal Tubular / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010245:Paralyses, Familial Periodic / Q000150:complications*; D011188:Potassium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium