title: Gitelman's syndrome presenting with hypocalcaemia, basal ganglia calcification and periodic paralysis.
abstract: Gitelman's syndrome (GS), also referred to as familial hypokalaemia-hypomagnesaemia syndrome, is an autosomal recessive renal tubular disorder characterised by hypokalaemic metabolic alkalosis, hypomagnesaemia and hypocalciuria. It is caused by a defect of the thiazide-sensitive sodium chloride co-transporter at the distal tubule. This condition was previously confused with Bartter syndrome. Documentation of hypocalciuria helps to differentiate GS from Bartter syndrome. We report a 44-year-old woman who presented with a history of seizure disorder and periodic paralysis. On investigation, she was found to have hypokalaemic metabolic alkalosis, hypomagnesaemia, hypocalciuria, hypoparathyroidism, hypocalcaemia and basal ganglia calcification, consistent with GS. The atypical features in our case, namely basal ganglia calcification and hypocalcaemia, prompted the writing of this case report.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, RG KAR Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata 700004, West Bengal, India. drsusanta2009@gmail.com
authors.forename: Susanta Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Amritava
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Niloy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Sudarshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khaskil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D053579:Gitelman Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D020514:Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D059906:Neuroimaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed