title: An unusual presentation of hypokalemic paralysis with evolving pure motor hemiparesis.
abstract: Pure motor hemiparesis is a vascular syndrome that is occasionally mimicked by central or spinal pathologies. However, metabolic neuromuscular disorders have not been reported to mimic this condition. We present a 52-year-old male patient with hypokalemic paralysis who presented with the early symptoms of acute-onset pure motor hemiparesis. Neurological examinations revealed right-sided weakness without bulbar, extraocular, or respiratory involvement. Ischemic stroke was initially diagnosed on the basis of the acute-onset unilateral motor deficit and the patient's history of hypertension, stroke, and previous cerebral infarctions. The right hemiparesis and weakness of the left limbs worsened on the day after admission. The patient's weakness rapidly reversed after correction of hypokalemia, and a diagnosis of hypokalemic paralysis was finally established. This unusual hemineurological presentation should alert medical personnel to the possibility of reversible metabolic neuromuscular disorders, thereby avoiding delayed diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, 123 Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yan-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Min-Yu
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Jia-Shou
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei-Hsi
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology; D010291:Paresis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011188:Potassium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium