Hypokalaemic Paralysis Associated with COVID-19 Infection

Atul Kaushik; Anish Garg; Brinder Mohan Singh; Ashok Kumar Agarwal; Showkat Nazir Wani

Hypokalaemic Paralysis Associated with COVID-19 Infection

J Assoc Physicians India. 2021 Jan;69(1):78-79.

Authors

Atul Kaushik¹, Anish Garg¹, Brinder Mohan Singh², Ashok Kumar Agarwal³, Showkat Nazir Wani⁴

Affiliations

¹ Post Graduate Resident, SMS and R, Sharda Hospital, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
² Professor, SMS and R, Sharda Hospital, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
³ Professor and HOD, SMS and R, Sharda Hospital, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
⁴ Senior Resident, SMS and R, Sharda Hospital, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

PMID: 34227783

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 is a pandemic affecting mainly respiratory and gastrointestinal system. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2) binds angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) resulting in hypokalaemia. We hereby report the a of hypokalaemic paralysis induced by COVID-19.

Case: A 56 years old male with no co-morbidities presented with fever (2days), weakness in bilateral lower limbs (1 day). His had severe hypokalaemia with serum potassium of 2.05 mEq/L. RT-PCR of nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV- 19 was positive. He was diagnosed as a case of hypokalaemic paralysis induced by COVID-19 infection.

Conclusion: We suggest that during this pandemic era if a COVID-19 patient presents with paralysis, hypokalaemia induced paralysis should be kept in the differential diagnosis.

What is known: COVID-19 infection leads to hypokalemia.

What is new: Hypokalaemic paralysis as a manifestation of COVID-19.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Humans
Hypokalemia* / etiology
Male
Middle Aged
Pandemics
Paralysis / etiology
SARS-CoV-2