Journal article
Licorice-induced Hypokalemic Paralysis in a Patient with Chronic Atopic Dermatitis
Journal of Medical Sciences, Vol.26(4), pp.129-132
08/01/2006
Abstract
Hypokalemic paralysis with a heterogeneous etiology requires a detailed search for underlying causes to avoid missing a treatable and curable disease. We describe an elderly male patient who experienced progressive muscle weakness and paralysis for one week. Profound hypokalemia (K super(+) 1.4 mmol/L) associated with renal K super(+) wasting and hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis (Cl super(-), 92 mmol/L; HCO super(-) sub(3), 40.6 mmol/L; pH, 7.52) were noted. Low plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration, and normal cortisol concentration implied a state of pseudoaldosteronism. A detailed history revealed that he had been taking an over-the-counter medication (six capsules daily) for three months to control his atopic dermatitis. These capsules contained a large amount of monoammonium glycyrrhizinate (51 mg/capsule), an ammonium salt of glycyrrhizic acid extracted from licorice. His plasma K super(+) concentration returned to 4.0 mmol/L two weeks after cessation of this drug, coupled with KC1 supplementation and spironolactone. This case shows that an unassuming licorice-containing drug used to treat dermatitis can induce profound life-threatening hypokalemia and paralysis.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Licorice-induced Hypokalemic Paralysis in a Patient with Chronic Atopic Dermatitis
- Creators
- Y-P ChangC-J ChengS-H Lin
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of Medical Sciences, Vol.26(4), pp.129-132
- ISSN
- 1011-4564
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/01/2006
- Academic Unit
- Internal Medicine; Nephrology
- Record Identifier
- 9984383264202771
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