Submitted by deb on Tue, 06/28/2011 – 05:30 Using the Transtubular Potassium Concentration Gradient to Determine the Origin of Hypokalemic Paralysis Many patients with hypokalemic paralysis live in diagnostic limbo for years without appropriate testing and therapy. Since time is muscle in the channelopathies, patients need speedy diagnosis and treatment. Repeated studies have shown that the transtubular potassium…
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,…