title: Manifestation of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis in two patients with adrenal adenomas and hyperandrogenaemia.
abstract: Hypokalaemic periodic paralysis is a fairly common complication of hyperthyroidism in Asian populations, but a rare event in Caucasians. In the present work we describe 2 male Caucasian patients with thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) as initial clinical manifestation of Graves' disease. Further diagnostic procedures demonstrated unilateral adrenal adenoma and hyperandrogenaemia in both patients. To date, only few data are available concerning the hormonal status of Caucasian patients with TPP. The constellation of TPP and adrenal adenomas with increased levels of androgens has not been described previously. Since androgens are capable of inducing sodium-potassium ATPase, which is thought to be centrally involved in the pathogenesis of TPP, hyperandrogenaemia may have triggered the manifestation of paralytic attacks in our patients. It may be of interest to focus not only on thyroid dysbalances in patients with TTP but also to investigate other hormonal disturbances.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, University Hospital Charité, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. henrik.biering@charite.de
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Biering
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bauditz
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirlich
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lochs
authors.forename: Helga
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gerl
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000150:complications*; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D020162:Hyperargininemia / Q000150:complications*; D020514:Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D013971:Thyrotoxicosis / Q000209:etiology*