Hypokalemic periodic paralysis: a 3-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Primary hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HypoPP) is an inherited channelopathy most commonly caused by mutations in CACNA1S. HypoPP can present with different phenotypes: periodic paralysis (PP), permanent muscle weakness (PW), and mixed weakness (MW) with both periodic and permanent weakness. Little is known about the natural history of HypoPP. METHODS: In this 3-year follow-up study, we used the MRC scale for manual muscle strength testing and whole-body muscle MRI (Mercuri score) to assess disease progression in individuals with HypoPP-causing mutations in CACNA1S. RESULTS: We included 25 men (mean age 43 years, range 18–76 years) and 12 women (mean age 42 years, range 18–76 years). Two participants were asymptomatic, 21 had PP, 12 MW, and two PW. The median number of months between baseline and follow-up was 42 (range 26–52). Muscle strength declined in 11 patients during follow-up. Four of the patients with a decline in muscle strength had no attacks of paralysis during follow-up, and two of these patients had never had attacks of paralysis. Fat replacement of muscles increased in 27 patients during follow-up. Eight of the patients with increased fat replacement had no attacks of paralysis during follow-up, and two of these patients had never had attacks of paralysis. DISCUSSION: The study demonstrates that HypoPP can be a progressive myopathy in both patients with and without attacks of paralysis.