Gitelman's syndrome presenting as recurrent paralytic ileus due to chronic renal tubular K+ wasting

Uma Sundar; Yogesh Lakkas; Dnyaneswar Asole; Meghana Vaidya

Gitelman's syndrome presenting as recurrent paralytic ileus due to chronic renal tubular K+ wasting

J Assoc Physicians India. 2010 May:58:322-4.

Authors

Uma Sundar¹, Yogesh Lakkas, Dnyaneswar Asole, Meghana Vaidya

Affiliation

¹ Internal Medicine, Service, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital and Medical College, Mumbai, India.

PMID: 21117354

Abstract

Gitelman' syndrome, although a relatively frequent cause of chronic hypokalemia in adults, is rarely diagnosed correctly. It is frequently confused with overt diuretic abuse or Bartter's syndrome. We describe a 60 year man with 2 year history of recurrent paralytic ileus attributed to recurrent hypokalemia. Investigations in this patient revealed hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, hypocalciurea, and hypomagnesemia a tetrad diagnostic of Gitelman's syndrome. The peculiar clinical features of this condition and its management are discussed.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Alkalosis / etiology
Alkalosis / metabolism
Bartter Syndrome / complications
Bartter Syndrome / diagnosis
Bartter Syndrome / metabolism
Calcium / metabolism
Chronic Disease
Diagnosis, Differential
Diuretics / administration & dosage
Gitelman Syndrome / complications
Gitelman Syndrome / diagnosis*
Gitelman Syndrome / metabolism
Humans
Hypokalemia / etiology*
Hypokalemia / metabolism
Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / etiology*
Kidney Tubules / metabolism
Male
Middle Aged
Potassium Chloride / administration & dosage
Recurrence
Spironolactone / administration & dosage
Syndrome
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Diuretics
Spironolactone
Potassium Chloride
Calcium