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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
6
pubmed:dateCreated
1996-10-25
pubmed:abstractText
We retrospectively evaluated the characteristics of adult patients admitted with thyrotoxic hypokalaemic periodic paralysis in Hong Kong. From 1984 to 1993, 45 Chinese adult patients were admitted with acute limb weakness, plasma potassium < or = 3.5 mmol/l and thyrotoxicosis confirmed by laboratory investigations. All but one were male. Seventy-five percent of attacks occurred between 9pm and 9am. Half of the attacks occurred between July and October (49.1%), most commonly in August (20%). Mean (+/- SEM) plasma potassium on admission was 2.17 +/- 0.08 mmol/l (range 1.1-3.5). In 15 episodes (27.3%), plasma potassium on recovery exceeded 5.0 mmol/l, while in three episodes (5.5%), potassium exceeded 6.0 mmol/l. No patient had a positive family history of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis. Only 28.9% had a known history of thyrotoxicosis before their first presentation with periodic paralysis. Twenty-seven (60%) had clinical evidence of thyrotoxicosis. Although all were biochemically thyrotoxic, 11.4% had only a mild degree of thyrotoxicosis (suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone, high free thyroxine, but normal free triiodothyronine). One quarter of the patients had a normal erythrocyte zinc concentration, indicating either a short history of thyrotoxicosis or transient thyrotoxicosis. The diagnosis of thyrotoxic hypokalaemic paralysis should always be considered in Chinese patients with acute muscle weakness, especially in young males. Absence of clinical thyrotoxicosis does not exclude the diagnosis. Plasma potassium should be monitored carefully during treatment to prevent rebound hyperkalaemia.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jun
pubmed:issn
1460-2725
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
89
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
463-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1996
pubmed:articleTitle
Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis in a Chinese population.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article