Hypokalaemic paralysis precipitated by distal renal tubular acidosis secondary to Sjögren's syndrome.
A 43-year-old woman presented with a sudden onset of hypokalaemic paralysis requiring intubation and ventilatory support. Subsequent biochemical and clinical assessments established a diagnosis of distal renal tubular acidosis (RTA) in association with underlying Sjögren's syndrome as the aetiology of her profound hypokalaemia. Distal RTA is rare, but Sjögren's syndrome is one of the more common causes in adults and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients who present with hypokalaemic muscular paralysis.
Comer
D M
DM
Craigavon Area Hospital Group Trust, Craigavon BT63 5QQ, Northern Ireland. dcomer@doctors.org.uk
Droogan
A G
AG
Young
I S
IS
Maxwell
A P
AP
D000141:Acidosis, Renal Tubular / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020514:Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications*