Clinical and Etiological Spectrum of Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan

Introduction Hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HPP) is characterized by muscle weakness secondary to low serum potassium levels. It may be primary in origin or there may be secondary causes like thyrotoxic periodic paralysis, renal or suprarenal causes, or non-renal causes like gastroenteritis. Aim To study the etiology, clinical manifestations, and outcome after therapy of patients with hypokalemic paralysis. Methodology The study was conducted from January 2016 to December 2016. Patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for hypokalemic paralysis, i.e., flaccid muscle weakness involving two or more limb muscles due to serum potassium < 3.5 mmol/L and with no objective sensory signs were included in the study. Relevant investigations were done. Those with other causes of flaccid weakness or on diuretic therapy were excluded from the study. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 20.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results In our study, 14 patients out of a total of 18 (14/18, i.e., 77.78%) were male and 4/18 (22.22%) were female [Male: Female ratio: 3.5:1]. The mean age of onset of HPP in males (29.5±10.14 yrs.) was lesser than that of females (41±10.8 yrs.), but this difference was statistically not significant (p<0.066). In the entire sample there were 15/18 cases (83.33%) of primary and 3/18 (16.67%) cases of secondary HPP [2/3 had thyrotoxic periodic paralysis and 1/3 had gastroenteritis]. Furthermore, 12/18 patients (66.66%) had symmetrical weakness (five cases of paraparesis and all were male; seven cases of quadriparesis: six males and one female) and 6/18 (33.33%) had asymmetrical weakness (two paraparesis: one male, one female; four quadriparesis: two males, two females). Statistically, no significant difference (p<0.709) was seen in those with symmetrical versus those with asymmetrical weakness. In this study 7/18 (38.89%) cases had absent, 1/18 (5.55%) had diminished, and 10/18 (55.55%) cases had intact deep tendon reflexes. None of the cases had cranial, bulbar, or respiratory involvement. The mean serum potassium of sample was 3.18±0.5 standard deviation (SD). The reduction in serum potassium was moderate (2.5-3.5 mmol/L) in primary and severe (<2.5 mmol/L) in secondary HPP. Those with quadriparesis had severe hypokalemia with a mean serum potassium of 2.1 mmol/L. Only 3/18 patients had concomitant magnesium deficiency. Patients given intravenous potassium replacement (except one with moderate hypokalemia and given oral replacement) recovered dramatically. The mean recovery time was 38.6±20.3 hours. The recovery time in quadriparesis was about 24 hours and in paraparesis was 12 hours. Only one patient with thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) and with severe serum potassium deficiency (0.9 meq/L) died due to cardiac arrhythmia. No atypical presentation was seen. Conclusion HPP has male preponderance. The age of onset of HPP is earlier in males than in females. Moreover, males are more prone to have symmetrical weakness. Asymmetrical weakness has almost an equal gender distribution. Primary hypokalemic paralysis is more frequent than secondary. Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis is the commonest cause of secondary periodic paralysis. The recovery time in quadriparesis is almost double the recovery time in paraparesis. Respiratory involvement is rare. HPP is an important differential in the diagnosis of acute flaccid muscle weakness. It should be promptly addressed to prevent recurrence of paralysis.