[An unusual diagnostic of quadriparesia: hyperkalemic paralysis. Report of four non-familial cases].
BACKGROUND
The classical cause of hyperkalemic paralysis is the hereditary hyperkalemic paralysis. Very rarely, secondary forms of hyperkalemic paralysis have been reported.


METHODS
Four cases of acute paralysis mimicking Guillain-Barre syndrome in three cases and revealing severe hyperkalemia are presented. All the four patients had moderate chronic renal insufficiency. In two cases, the patients received spironolactone. One case was associated with lysis syndrome. All the 4 cases dramatically improved with the treatment of hyperkalemia.


CONCLUSIONS
These cases pointed out the possibility for acute peripheral paralysis to reveal severe hyperkalemia.
Desport
E
E
Service de réanimation médicale, hôpital Jean-Bernard, CHU de Poitiers, France.
Leroy
J
J
Nanadoumgar
H
H
Chatellier
D
D
Robert
R
R
D000368:Aged; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*