Korean J Med.  2007 Jan;72(1):100-104.

Two cases of hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis due to thiazide treatment

• Shin SH
• Sun DS
• Kim G
• Kim YS
• Yoon SA
• Chang YS
• Kim YO

Abstract

Hypokalemia is a common metabolic cause of rhabdomyolysis. Although treatment with thiazide causes hypokalemia frequently, hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis after administration with thiazide is very rare. Here we report two cases of hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis due to thiazide treatment. A 50-year-old woman who had been treated with thiazide for hypertension was admitted due to quadriplegia. The patient had a potassium level of 1.5 mEq/L, a creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) level of 21,346 IU/L, and a lactic dehydrogenase level (LDH) of 2,389 IU/L. An 80-year-old man who had been treated with thiazide for hypertension was admitted due to generalized weakness. His potassium level was 1.9 mEq/L, CPK was 29,000 IU/L, and LDH was 2,393 IU/L. There were no any other causes of rhabdomyolysis except hypokalemia due to thiazide treatment for both patients. With adequate hydration and potassium replacement, hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis recovered completely without sequele.

Keyword

Thiazides; Hypokalemia; Rhadomyolysis; Quadriplegia

MeSH Terms

Aged, 80 and over
Creatinine
Female
Humans
Hypertension
Hypokalemia
Middle Aged
Oxidoreductases
Potassium
Quadriplegia
Rhabdomyolysis*
Thiazides
Creatinine
Oxidoreductases
Potassium
Thiazides