Hypokalemic Paralysis: A Report of Two Different Cases

Hypokalemic paralysis is a cause of acute paralysis that can be classified as primary (familial) or secondary according to its etiology. Routine electrodiagnostic examinations can be normal between attacks, potentially interfering with the diagnosis. We report two cases of hypokalemic paralysis with different etiologies. The first case involved secondary hypokalemic paralysis due to pharmacologic potassium shift, which was diagnosed by an electrodiagnostic study within the symptomatic period. The second case provides information on the diagnostic approach to primary hypokalemic periodic paralysis during the inter-attack period, as the diagnosis was made using the long exercise test. This case report highlights the need for a proper combination of routine electrodiagnostic studies and special techniques, such as the long exercise test, in patients suspected of hypokalemic paralysis to evaluate the disease state and exclude other possible causes of paralysis.