title: Severe hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis and hypertension in a 54 year old male with ectopic ACTH syndrome: a case report.
abstract: Ectopic ACTH syndrome is a rare cause of Cushing's syndrome accounting for about 15% of all cases. Small cell lung cancer and bronchial carcinoids account for about half of the cases. Malignant neoplasm has rapid and more aggressive metabolic effects. We report a 54-year-old male patient with phenotypic features of Cushing's syndrome with severe hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, hypertension and altered mental status as manifestations of an ACTH-secreting small cell carcinoma from the lung. Ectopic ACTH syndrome should be highly considered in patients with hypertension and severe hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, especially when a lung mass is discovered.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Regional, Dr. Valentín Gómez Farías Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado. Av. Soledad Orozco 203, Col. EL Capullo, Zapopan, 45150, Jalisco Mexico. drmartinezvalles@yahoo.com.mx
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martínez-Valles
authors.forename: Asael
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palafox-Cazarez
authors.forename: Jose Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Paredes-Avina