title: Life-threatening hypokalaemic paralysis associated with distal renal tubular acidosis.
abstract: A 56-year-old woman developed acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation due to acute hypokalaemic paralysis. There was no gastrointestinal potassium loss nor was she taking diuretics. Additional analyses revealed a normal anion gap metabolic acidosis with a positive urine anion gap. An acid-load test revealed a renal urine acidification defect, leading to the diagnosis of distal renal tubular acidosis. Normalisation of serum potassium level was established with oral bicarbonate supplementation and temporary potassium supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Dordrecht, the Netherlands. m.vendeloo@asz.nl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vendeloo
authors.forename: A L H J
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Aarnoudse
authors.forename: E F H
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: van Bommel
mesh_terms: D000141:Acidosis, Renal Tubular / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium