DOI: 10.36347/sjmcr.2020.v08i02.007

Pages: 123-125

Hyperkalemia is a life-threatening electrolyte disturbance that can present with a spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic to life-threatening arrhythmias and secondary hyperkalemic paralysis [1] depending on the serum concentration and the underlying comorbidities, such as concomitant renal failure. Acute flaccid quadriplegia secondary to hyperkaliemia is a very rare and life threatening medical emergency. We report the case of a 24 year old female with ESRD secondary to glomerulonephritis on chronic hemodialysis presenting with rapidly progressive ascending paraplegia progressing to flaccid quadriplegia in about 23 hours due to life threatening hyperkaliemia (9.8mEq/L). Drug history revealed that the patient was on Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 160mg/800mg per day (for the past 15 days), prednisone 20 mg per day, amlodipine 5 mg per day (for past 5 months). Patient was treated with antihyperkaliemic measures and hemodialysis .She regained dramatically her power after potassium levels normalized. The aim of this case report is to highlight and raise awareness for uncommon non cardiac presentation of hyperkalemia.