Myotonia induced by potassium repletion in a diabetic patient with secondary hypokalemic paralysis.
In a woman suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, hypokalemic paralysis developed acutely following an episode of diabetes decompensation. During the treatment of this episode, as soon as serum potassium levels were restored to normal values, a marked increase in muscular excitability with an electromyographic picture of myotonia was observed. The patient showed signs of chronic muscle denervation that accounted for an increased sensitivity to potassium-induced depolarization and contraction and that might have been responsible for the appearance of myotonia during potassium repletion.
Bertora
P
P
Clinica Neurologica, Istituto di Scienze Biomediche Ospedale L. Sacco, Milano, Italia.
Caccia
M R
MR
Mangoni
A
A
D000328:Adult; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D009222:Myotonia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010243:Paralysis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood
D011188:Potassium