title: The periodic paralyses.
abstract: Patient history and examination often provide sufficient diagnostic clues to allow appropriate classification of the patient with one of the primary periodic paralyses. This article reviews these disorders, their treatment, and the use of provocative testing in their diagnosis. Dysfunction of the muscle membrane sodium channel may be a "final common pathway" pathogenetic mechanism for many of the periodic paralyses.
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Riggs
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia; D007008:Hypokalemia; D010245:Paralyses, Familial Periodic / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy