Uncommon dyselectrolytemia complicating Guillain–Barré syndrome

• Main Authors: Aralikatte Onkarappa Saroja, Karkal Ravishankar Naik, S Mallikarjun Khanpet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2013-07-01
• Series: Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice
• Subjects: guillain-barré; hypokalemia; hypomagnesemia
• Online Access: http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/0976-3147.118794

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and hypokalemic paralysis are common causes of acute flaccid quadriparesis and specific therapeutic interventions differ. Simultaneous occurrence of severe hypokalemia in patients with GBS at the time of presentation can cause diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. Presence of hypomagnesemia with hypokalemia in patients with GBS can be perplexing and pose further challenges. Evaluation for preexisting inherited or other associated metabolic disturbances is needed in the presence of such complex dyselectrolytemia. We report the rare association of GBS with severe hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia in a 41-year-old male presenting with acute flaccid quadriparesis and the therapeutic challenges faced.