Methylprednisolone Induced Hypokalemia In An Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) Patient

We reported an Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) patient, 66-years-old (woman), with hypokalemia. She received 125 mg three times daily of methylprednisolone injection for her ITP. Corticosteroids are the initial treatment of ITP. Her potassium level decrease after she took methylprednisolone. Hypokalemia is also a common problem affecting the elderly or geriatric population. Many literatures reported side effects of corticosteroid is associated with hypokalemia. Monitoring potassium levels must be check during corticosteroid therapy. In this report, we describe the association between corticosteroid with hypokalemia effect.