Hypokalemic periodic paralysis, a rare yet critical condition: A case report

Paydas,Saime; Gergerli,Mehmet Ali; Celik,Ahmet

doi:10.3892/mi.2025.220

Hypokalemic periodic paralysis, a rare yet critical condition: A case report

Authors:
- Saime Paydas
- Mehmet Ali Gergerli
- Ahmet Celik
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Affiliations: Adana Acıbadem Hospital, Adana 01130, Turkey, Mehmet Akif Inan Training and Research Hospital, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health, Şanlıurfa 63040, Turkey
Published online on: February 14, 2025 https://doi.org/10.3892/mi.2025.220
Article Number: 21
Copyright : © Paydas et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY 4.0].

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Abstract

Hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HPP) is a rare disease. Due to channelopathy caused by mutations in skeletal muscle ion channels, episodes of sudden flaccid muscle weakness and hypokalemia develop as a result of various trigger factors. The present study reports the case of a 25‑year‑old male patient with HPP admitted with acute onset numbness and paralysis in the extremities accompanying hypokalemia (2.66 mEq/l). The patient became asymptomatic following treatment with a potassium (K) supplement and was diagnosed with HPP. The present study describes this case of HPP in an aim to remind colleagues of the possibility of HPP in hypokalemic patients with muscle weakness and flaccid paralysis.

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