Acute quadriplegia in a 34-year-old man.
A 34-year-old man of Native American descent had flaccid paralysis of the extremities 2 days after a camping trip. He had no respiratory difficulty, sensory deficit, or abnormal reflexes. He was subsequently found to have a serum potassium level of 1.6 mEq/L, a thyrotropin level of <0.06 microIU/L, and a free thyroxin level of 5.30 ng/dL. Thyroid uptake and scan were consistent with those of Graves' disease. Symptoms rapidly resolved with potassium chloride, propranolol, prednisone, and antithyroid therapy. No further episodes occurred.
Parilo
M A
MA
Department of Medicine, Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio, USA.
González
C L
CL
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology*; D013958:Thyroid Crisis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology