A Case of Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis in a 16-Year-Old Adolescent.

Ahn,  Moon Bae; Jung,  You Jin; Lee,  Moon Hee; Cho,  Won Kyoung; Suh,  Byung Kyu

doi:2012.17.2.117

Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab > Volume 17(2); 2012 > Article

Case Report

Annals of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism 2012;17(2): 117-121.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2012.17.2.117

A Case of Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis in a 16-Year-Old Adolescent.

Moon Bae Ahn, You Jin Jung, Moon Hee Lee, Won Kyoung Cho, Byung Kyu Suh

Department of Pediatrics, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. suhbk@catholic.ac.kr

Abstract

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is a transient illness characterized by muscle weakness often associated with hypokalemia during thyrotoxic state. Hypokalemia is induced by thyroid hormone excess through stimulation of Na-K ATPase which pumps extracellular potassium ions into the cell. Muscle weakness resolves when serum potassium level is corrected, but the condition may recur when there is thyrotoxicosis. TPP is most commonly reported in Asian males aged between 20 to 40 years and it is rare in children and adolescents. We report a 16-year-old patient previously diagnosed with Graves' disease who showed recurrent episodes of TPP.

Keywords: Hypokalemic periodic paralysis;Hyperthyroidism;Graves disease;Adolescent