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…
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,…