Volume 24, Issue 104, July - August, 2020

Hypokalemic paralysis in systemic sclerosis - A clinical challenge

Bimal K Agrawal^1♦, Taniya Pruthi², Barinder Kaur³

¹Professor of Medicine, M M Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana 133207
²Resident, Department of Medicine, M M Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana 133207
³Resident, Department of Medicine, M M Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana 133207

^♦Corresponding author
Professor of Medicine, M M Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana 133207, Haryana, India; Email: onlybimal@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

A forty year old female presented with weakness of all the four limbs since two days. On evaluation it was found that she was hypokalemic which she had for last four months. She was further investigated for persistent hypokalemia. On clinical examination she was found to have sclerodactyly which prompted to consider the diagnosis of systemic sclerosis. The diagnosis was further supported by presence of antinuclear antibody and anti Scl 70 antibody. Urinary loss of potassium due to distal renal tubular acidosis was causing hypokalemia. The patient was managed with potassium supplementation.

Keywords: distal renal tubular acidosis, quadriplegia, urinary loss of potassium, scleroderma

Medical Science, 2020, 24(104), 2009-2012

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