title: Iodine-induced thyrotoxic hypokalemic paralysis after ingestion of Salicornia herbace.
abstract: A 56-year-old Korean man visited to emergency room due to paroxysmal flaccid paralysis in his lower extremities. There was no family or personal history of periodic paralysis. His initial potassium levels were 1.8 mmol/L. The patient had been taking Salicornia herbacea for the treatment of diabetes and hypertension. Results of a thyroid function test were as follows: T3 = 130.40 ng/dL, TSH = 0.06 mIU/L, and free T4 = 1.73 ng/dL. A thyroid scan exhibited a decreased uptake (0.6%). His symptoms clearly improved and serum potassium levels increased to 4.4 mmol/L by intravenous infusion of only 40 mmol of potassium chloride. Eight months after the discontinuation of only Salicornia herbacea, the patient's thyroid function tests were normalized. Large amounts of iodine can induce hypokalemic thyrotoxic paralysis and it may be necessary to inquire about the ingestion of iatrogenic iodine compounds, such as Salicornia herbacea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital , Jinju , South Korea and.
authors.forename: Seong Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Yeojin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Eun Jin
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Kyungo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Ha Nee
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Hyun Seop
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Se-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Dong Jun
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D019663:Chenopodiaceae / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004435:Eating; D006801:Humans; D020514:Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D007455:Iodine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013971:Thyrotoxicosis / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D007455:Iodine