A Case of Thiazide-induced Hypokalemic Paralysis

Overview

Journal Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med

Specialty Emergency Medicine

Date 2019 Aug 13

PMID 31403094

Authors

Elizabeth Schell

Joshua Pathman

Richard Pescatore

Pollianne W Bianchi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We describe the case of a patient presenting with odd neurologic symptoms initially thought to represent somatization who was found to have critical hypokalemia manifesting as hypokalemic non-periodic paralysis. It was determined that the patient had baseline hypokalemia as a function of alcohol abuse, exacerbated by self overmedication with hydrochlorothiazide for elevated blood pressure readings at home. The diagnosis was suspected when an electrocardiogram was obtained demonstrating a pseudo-prolonged QT interval with ST depression, consistent with T-U wave fusion and a QU interval with an absent T wave.1 The patient received oral and intravenous potassium and magnesium supplementation with resolution of symptoms.

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