An unusual cause of hypokalemic muscle weakness.
A 36-year-old woman presented with proximal muscle weakness, cramps, and a serum potassium level of 2.7 mEq/l. During her hospitalization she was noted to use excessive quantities of a snuff preparation containing glycyrrhizinic acid, a potent mineralocorticoid analogue. With discontinuation of this substance, her potassium returned to normal values and her strength improved. This case is submitted as a hypokalemia myopathy induced by snuff dipping.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000209:etiology*; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless