[Genetic hypokalemia].
BACKGROUND
Hypokalemia is the most frequent electrolytic disturbance in hospitalized patients. It is sometimes familial. Careful clinical and biological evaluation may guide further genetic analysis.


BACKGROUND
Genetic hypokalemia is linked to disorders of mineralocorticoid hormone synthesis or action (glucocorticoid-remediable hyperaldosteronism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, apparent excess of mineralocorticoids), to renal tubular disorders (Liddle's syndrome, Bartter's and Gitelmann's syndrome, tubular acidosis) or to disorders of cellular transfer of potassium (hypokalemic periodic paralysis).


CONCLUSIONS
Molecular mechanisms of adult Bartter's syndrome are probably different from pediatric syndromes. A better clinical and biological evaluation with longitudinal follow-up could allow significant progress in the knowledge of the natural history and prognosis of these syndromes.
Service de médecine interne et nutrition, hôpital de Hautepierre, CHRU, avenue Molière, 67098 Strasbourg, France. bernard.goichot@chru-strasbourg.fr
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Goichot
D000141:Acidosis, Renal Tubular / Q000175:diagnosis; D000312:Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis; D000471:Alkalosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D008901:Mineralocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism
D008901:Mineralocorticoids