Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Aug 1998
Case ReportsSalbutamol treatment in a patient with hyperkalaemic periodic paralysis due to a mutation in the skeletal muscle sodium channel gene (SCN4A).
A 35 year old woman with clinical features of hyperkalaemic periodic paralysis confirmed on provocative exercise testing was investigated. DNA sequence analysis of the gene for the alpha-subunit of the skeletal muscle voltage gated sodium channel (SCN4A) on chromosome 17q23 identified a point mutation at nucleotide position 2188. ⋯ The patient was intolerant of diuretic medication but showed a striking clinical and electrophysiological improvement with salbutamol therapy. Treatment with beta-adrenergic agents should be considered in patients with hyperkalaemic periodic paralysis who are intolerant of, or resistant to, diuretic medications.