19-year-old Woman with Intermittent Weakness

• Main Authors: Garrett A. Cavaliere, Neeraja Murali, Laura J. Bontempo, Zachary D.W. Dezman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: eScholarship Publishing, University of California 2021-08-01
• Series: Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine
• Online Access: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9sp1m3w8

Introduction: Systemic weakness is a common chief complaint of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). A well thought out approach to the assessment and workup of these patients is key to diagnostic accuracy and definitive therapy. Case Presentation: In this case, a 19-year-old female presented to the ED with generalized weakness and near syncope. She had global weakness in her extremities and multiple electrolyte abnormalities. Discussion: This case takes the reader through the differential diagnosis and evaluation of a patient with weakness and profound electrolyte derangements. It includes a discussion of the diagnostic studies and calculations that ultimately led to the patient’s diagnosis.