Submitted by deb on Wed, 07/20/2011 – 19:51 Communication is key: Stephen Wilkins, MPH, writes of improving practice management through improved patient/physician communication and its impact on care, in Mind the Gap. Practical aspects in the management of hypokalemic periodic paralysis. Author: Jacob O Levitt MD; Management considerations in hypokalemic periodic paralysis include accurate diagnosis, potassium dosage for acute attacks,…
Submitted by deb on Fri, 01/16/2015 – 00:37 Ding Z, Liu M, Cui L. Reference value of long-time exercise test in the diagnosis of primary periodic paralysis. Chin Med J (Engl). 2014;127(18):3219-23. Abstract BACKGROUND:The long-time exercise test (ET) is used to diagnose the primary periodic paralyses (PPs). However the reference values of ET are many and various….
Submitted by deb on Wed, 07/27/2011 – 02:17 The normal renal response when hypokalemia is due to non-renal causes is a TTKG <2, where a TTKG >5 is indicative of increased secretion of K+ in the cortical collecting ducts. Thus a trans tubular potassium concentration gradient (TTKG) of greater than 3.0 indicates hypokalemia of renal origin, while…
Submitted by deb on Thu, 06/21/2012 – 16:31 1) Patient has “attacks” of weakness and/or floppy paralysis. 2) First attacks occur by the age of 16 in 65% of patients. 3) Attacks follow triggering events (vigorous exercise, intense stress, fright) or a meal high in carbohydrate and/or sodium (baked goods, pizza, Chinese food, sugar-sweetened soda, beer, etc.)….
Submitted by deb on Fri, 07/01/2011 – 22:01 When evaluating patients for periodic paralysis it is vital to obtain accurate results from blood draws. Because potassium levels which vary only a fraction of a point may be enough to trigger weakness in some patients, the lab may need to be made aware of specialized procedures which should…
Submitted by deb on Sat, 07/02/2011 – 20:58 This chart allows comparison of the forms of primary periodic paralysis, symptoms, clinical and cardiac signs, effect of potassium, triggers and therapies. Form Effect of K+ Age at onset Triggers Relieves Attack Length Myotonia? Hypertrophy Weakness between attacks EKG during attacks Therapies Thyrotoxic HypoKalemic Periodic Paralysis Relieves weakness At…
Do you suspect that you might have periodic paralysis? The periodic paralyses are a rare group of disorders and there are many conditions which cause an imbalance in serum potassium. So how does the doctor tell the difference between paralysis or weakness caused by an ion channelopathy and any of the other numerous disorders, conditions…
The Compound Muscle Action Potential (CMAP) test (aka the Exercise EMG) is used to diagnose the periodic paralyses. When done correctly this test is reported to positively identify 70%-80% of patients. The CMAP test is based on the observation that patients with Periodic Paralysis have a greater than normal increase in the compound muscle action…
Submitted by deb on Sat, 06/25/2011 – 19:16 What happens during an attack of Periodic Paralysis? People with Periodic Paralysis (PP) have episodes in which their muscles become weak or paralyzed in response to variations in the amount of potassium in their blood. These variations occur during sleep, they may result from food the person has eaten,…