RESUMEN
Background: Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis, a skeletal muscle disorder, is characterized by muscle weakness often due to lowering of potassium levels in the body. The cause could be due defect in voltage gated calcium or sodium channels caused by genetic defect, thyroid dysfunction, and other secondary reasons. High carbohydrate diet, exercise, alcoholism is known to trigger the symptoms. Methods: 35 patients with non-familial periodic paralysis occurring during summer months in Hyderabad and the neighboring areas were considered in the study. The precipitating factors, onset of symptoms, the type of motor weakness were all taken into account. Biochemical tests like Potassium levels and creatinine phosphokinase were also done. Results: Female preponderance was observes with the prominent age group being 20 -30 years. Most of the patients had sudden onset of symptoms (in less than 6 hours) with all patients having the involvement of the axial, proximal and distal muscles. Hypotonia was seen in 71% of the patients. More than 90% of the patients had lowered potassium levels while majority of them had normal CPK levels. Carbohydrate meal, rest after exercise and alcohol were found to be the most common predisposing factors. Conclusion: As a significant number of people have non-familial and sporadic and potentially reversible causes of hypokalemic paralysis, a proper and detailed work up must be done for other causes of HPP other than familial. Carbohydrate meal, exercise and alcoholism were observed to be the most common causes. Administration and elevation of potassium levels normally reverses the situation.