Patient

Clinical Signs

Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis is a genetically determined disorder which causes attacks of weakness and flaccid paralysis. Attacks last from 10 min to 1 hour, very rarely up to 1-2 days. Some patients experience only a few attacks over their lifetime, others have attacks every day. Diagnosis is suggested by attacks of weakness during which the patient's serum potassium is above 5.0 mmol/l or rises at least .5 of a mmol/l above their normal level when not in an attack.

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The Importance to Physicians of Support Groups for Rare Conditions

Are Weakness and Fatigue Between Paralytic Attacks Symptoms of Periodic Paralysis?

Parents of some children with Periodic Paralysis will need to work with the school to achieve a plan which will allow their child to reach their full potential. The information in this article reflects the experiences of children in US schools. We hope it will be helpful to parents, school administrators, teachers, school nurses and physicians as they work together.

Life is a daily challenge for the child with periodic paralysis.

Periodic Paralysis poses unique problems for school-age youngsters. Because young PP patients usually look perfectly normal, and may even look extremely muscular and fit, it's hard for school staff to understand what a challenge daily life can be for them. But these children's strength may vary widely from day to day, even hour to hour, which is not just frustrating for teachers to cope with but extremely difficult for the child as well.

Patients with Sodium channel HyperKPP and PMC mutations are at increased risk of Malignant Hyperthermia;

Periodic Paralysis Patients at Increased Risk of MH

Patients with Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis and Paramyotonia Congenita are at increased risk for Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) during surgery. 

Patients who take potassium chloride long-term, i.e., are at risk for developing vitamin B-12 deficiency. Potassium supplements such as K-Dur, Micro-K, Slow-K, K-Lyte, etc. interfere with the absorption of vitamin B-12 and can eventually lead to the depletion of body stores of this crucial vitamin. ^{1, 2, 3}