Periodic Paralysis in Taiwan

Introduction THE PURPOSE of this report is to describe the characteristic features of periodic paralysis as it is seen among the Chinese on Taiwan. This disease, contrary to previous publications, has been found to be not uncommon in this area. It has now been well recognized that a number of different etiologic factors and metabolic disturbances may produce a clinical syndrome of periodic paralysis of the nonfamilial type. Furthermore, it would appear that the dominant heredofamilial type is relatively uncommon.¹⁻⁵ In general, potassium metabolism has been implicated and cases of sporadic hypokalemic periodic paralysis have been reported as a result of potassium-losing nephritis,⁶primary or intermittent aldosteronism,⁷,⁸and other causes for potassium deficiency.⁹There have also been instances of periodic paralysis reported in which the serum potassium levels have been found to be normal.⁵,¹⁰,¹¹Hyperkalemic paralysis or adynamia episodica hereditaria has also been