PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Plamen G. Tzvetanov
TI  - Hypokalemia-associated catastrophic rhabdomyolysis in ulcerative colitis
DP  - 2009 Sep 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 1225--1227
VI  - 30
IP  - 9
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/30/9/1225.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/30/9/1225.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2009 Sep 01; 30
AB  - A case of catastrophic hypokalemia-associated rhabdomyolysis in patient with ulcerative colitis (UC) is reported. A 60-year-old man presented with an exacerbation of UC and hypokalemia due to long-term diarrhea. While in the hospital, rhabdomyolysis developed in association with worsening hypokalemia. The hypokalemia was refractory to treatment and progressive course. Patient developed painful cramps of the masticatory and facial musculature associated with a moderated weakness in distal muscle groups. The weakness extended to intercostals and diaphragm muscles and led to respiratory deficiency. Serum concentration of creatine kinase was highly increased. Patient died from advancing and insurmountable cardiovascular deficiency. The causative role of hypokalemia for muscle involvement and rhabdomyolysis in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases was discussed.