title: Hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis: an unusual presentation of Sjogren's syndrome.
abstract: Hypokalaemic rhabdomyolysis represents a medical emergency requiring rapid diagnosis and appropriate aetiological treatment. Renal tubular acidosis is a common cause of hypokalemia which can be idiopathic or secondary to systemic disorders such as Sjogren's syndrome. It can remain asymptomatic or manifest with metabolic abnormalities including hypokalemia paralysis, hypocalcaemia and hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. Rhabdomyolysis presenting with severe hypokalemia as the first manifestation of Sjogren's syndrome is rare. We report a case of a 59-year-old woman who presented to our department with severe weakness of all limbs. Laboratory examination demonstrated hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis caused by distal renal tubular acidosis. Investigations revealed Sjogren's syndrome as the underlying cause of the metabolic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Charles Nicolles Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Eya
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cherif
authors.forename: Lamia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ben Hassine
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kechaou
authors.forename: Narjess
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khalfallah
mesh_terms: D000141:Acidosis, Renal Tubular / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D017419:Potassium, Dietary / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D017419:Potassium, Dietary