Profound muscle weakness and hypokalemia due to clay ingestion.
We have presented the case of a 43-year-old woman with severe myositis due to clay ingestion and hypokalemia. EMG studies revealed a pattern consistent with myositis, and muscle biopsy showed a nonspecific diffuse myositis. The clay was shown to act as a potassium binder. With potassium replacement and discontinuance of clay ingestion, the symptoms and signs abated and laboratory values returned to normal.
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Department of Emergency Medicine, East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville, NC 27834.
Holt
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T
Patrone
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NA
Chapman
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L
D000328:Adult; D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D000077215:Clay; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000209:etiology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D009220:Myositis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010842:Pica / Q000150:complications*
D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D000077215:Clay