Intermittent Paralysis and Chronic Adrenal Insufficiency

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Abstract
Five cases of paralysis caused by hyperkalemia have been reported as a complication of Addison''s disease. In general, these patients had single episodes of flaccid quadriplegia with or without premonitory signs of weakness or partial paralysis. A patient with chronic adrenal insufficiency is described who had brief, intermittent episodes of neuromuscular dysfunction for 3 years. Hypoglycemia was not present during the attacks, but marked hyperkalemia was found during the terminal episode of paralysis. It is suggested that disordered potassium metabolism was responsible for at least some of the neuromuscular symptoms. The usual therapy for acute and chronic adrenal insufficiency was not effective in this case.

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