Hypokalemic Paralysis and Hypocalcemic Tetany: Paradoxical Duality in a Case of Sjogren's Syndrome

A 26-year-old female was hospitalized with acute lower motor neuron quadriplegia. Laboratory tests pointed to the presence of distal renal tubular acidosis, which was characterized by hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, severe hypokalemia, alkaline urine, and a positive urinary anion gap. She also had aminoaciduria, hyperphosphaturia, hypophosphatemia, and normoglycemic glycosuria, all of which are indicative of dysfunction of proximal tubules. Further investigation confirmed Sjogren's syndrome. Strangely, our patient also experienced carpopedal spasms and had low calcium and magnesium levels. As the hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, and acidosis were corrected, the quadriplegia and carpopedal spasm improved. By the time of discharge, proximal tubular abnormalities were rectified (with the exception of albuminuria). One well-known renal symptom of Sjogren's syndrome is distal tubular acidosis. The brief proximal tubular dysfunction and distal tubular acidosis in Sjogren’s syndrome is rare. This case report highlights a rare renal complication of Sjogren’s syndrome.