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Thyrotoxic, hypokalaemic periodic paralysis in Australasian men
Author(s) -
Tran H. A.,
Kay S. E.,
Kende M.,
Doery J. C. G.,
Colman P. G.,
Read A.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1046/j.1445-5994.2003.00347.x
Subject(s) - thyrotoxic periodic paralysis , medicine , paralysis , periodic paralysis , pediatrics , hypokalemic periodic paralysis , surgery
The present study describes the clinical and laboratory features of 11 patients with thyrotoxic, hypokalaemic periodic paralysis, presenting to five Melbourne teaching hospitals between 1991 and 2000. All 11 patients were Asian or Polynesian men aged 18−41 years, and most had experienced previous episodes of acute, unexplained paralysis. All cases resolved without significant morbidity. Thyrotoxic, hypokalaemic periodic paralysis is a potentially life‐threatening and terrifying condition, which is often under‐recognized and will present with increasing frequency in the community. The diagnosis should be considered in any Asian−Australian male presenting with sudden onset paralysis. (Intern Med J 2003; 33: 91−94)