[Rapidly progressing quadriparesis secondary to licorice (souss) intoxication].
BACKGROUND
Regular consumption of licorice based beverages can provoke pseudohyperaldosteronism with hypokalemia but can rarely lead to severe muscle weakness.


METHODS
A 62-year-old man was admitted for a one-week history of progressive weakness of the four limbs. Blood work revealed severe hypokalemia that was due to primary pseudo-hyperaldosteronism secondary to licorice intoxication. He became normal after correction of the electrolytes disturbances.


CONCLUSIONS
In an area where a liquorice-based beverage (souss), is frequently and sometimes excessively consumed, pseudo-hyperaldosteronism secondary to licorice toxicity should be thought of in front of any muscle weakness accompanied by hypokalemia. A rapid correction of electrolytes disturbances leads to rapid improvement.
Services de Neurologie, Hôtel-Dieu de France. hatem_korri2@hotmail.com
Hatem
H
Korri
Adnan
A
Awada
Wadih
W
Baajour
Mona
M
Beaini
Wassim
W
Nasreddine
D001628:Beverages; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology*; D011546:Pseudohypoaldosteronism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology*