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Characterization of hyperkalemic periodic paralysis: a survey of genetically diagnosed individuals. Charles G, Zheng C, Lehmann-Horn F, Jurkat-Rott K, Levitt J - J. Neurol. (2013) Bottom Line: There is a relative risk of 3.6 (p < 0.0001) for thyroid dysfunction compared to the general population.Approximately one-third of individuals experienced progressive myopathy.Those with no chronic treatment regimen have a RR of 2.3 for inadequate disease control compared to those taking long-term medications. View Article: PubMed Central - PubMed Affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Overlook Medical Center, 99 Beauvoir Avenue, Summit, NJ, 07902, USA, grace.charles@atlantichealth.org. ABSTRACT This exploratory study aims to create an evidence-based comprehensive characterization of hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (hyperPP). HyperPP is a rare genetic disorder that causes episodes of flaccid paralysis. Disease descriptions in the literature are based upon isolated clinical encounters and case reports. We describe the experience of a large cohort of genetically diagnosed individuals with hyperPP. We surveyed genetically characterized individuals age 18 and over to assess disease comorbidities, diagnostic testing, management, and quality of life issues relevant to hyperPP. Myotonia was reported by 55.8 % of subjects and paramyotonia by 45.3 %. There is a relative risk of 3.6 (p < 0.0001) for thyroid dysfunction compared to the general population. Twenty-five percent of subjects experienced their sentinel attack in the second decade of life. It took an average of 19.4 years and visits to four physicians to arrive at the diagnosis of hyperPP. In addition to limbs and hands being affected during attacks, 26.1 % of subjects reported their breathing musculature was affected and 62.0 % reported their facial muscles were affected. There was a lifelong trend of increasing attack frequency, which was particularly common during childhood and adolescence. Approximately one-third of individuals experienced progressive myopathy. Permanent muscle weakness was evident and worsened during childhood and after age 40. Those with no chronic treatment regimen have a RR of 2.3 for inadequate disease control compared to those taking long-term medications. This study revealed a multitude of heretofore unidentified characteristics of hyperPP, in addition to providing a different perspective on some previously held notions regarding the condition. Show MeSH Major NAV1.4 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel/genetics* Paralysis, Hyperkalemic Periodic/epidemiology/genetics/physiopathology/psychology Point Mutation/genetics Minor Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Cohort Studies Electromyography Evidence-Based Medicine Female Health Surveys Humans Male Middle Aged Muscle, Skeletal/physiopathology Quality of Life Surveys and Questionnaires Young Adult Related in: MedlinePlus	© Copyright Policy - OpenAccess Related In: Results - Collection Show All Figures getmorefigures.php?uid=PMC3824221&req=5 Fig2: Subjects reported those areas of the body affected during attacks. Arms and hands are just as frequently affected during attacks as thighs and calves. Furthermore, facial and breathing musculature are affected during attacks in a significant number of individuals Mentions: Subjects most commonly described their attacks as stiffness followed by weakness, although many described their attacks as some other permutation of weakness and/or stiffness. Regions of the body typically affected by attacks are shown in Fig. 2. The arms and hands are just as frequently affected as the thighs and calves. In contrast to prior literature [11], 26.1 % of subjects reported that their breathing musculature was affected and 62.0 % reported that their face was affected during attacks, 2.2 % reported being unable to speak during a typical attack. Current clinical understanding is that sphincter tone is not altered during attacks [11], however, two subjects reported bowel incontinence and seven reported bladder incontinence during attacks.Fig. 2

Characterization of hyperkalemic periodic paralysis: a survey of genetically diagnosed individuals.

Charles G, Zheng C, Lehmann-Horn F, Jurkat-Rott K, Levitt J - J. Neurol. (2013)

Bottom Line: There is a relative risk of 3.6 (p < 0.0001) for thyroid dysfunction compared to the general population.Approximately one-third of individuals experienced progressive myopathy.Those with no chronic treatment regimen have a RR of 2.3 for inadequate disease control compared to those taking long-term medications.

View Article: PubMed Central - PubMed

Affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Overlook Medical Center, 99 Beauvoir Avenue, Summit, NJ, 07902, USA, grace.charles@atlantichealth.org.

ABSTRACT

This exploratory study aims to create an evidence-based comprehensive characterization of hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (hyperPP). HyperPP is a rare genetic disorder that causes episodes of flaccid paralysis. Disease descriptions in the literature are based upon isolated clinical encounters and case reports. We describe the experience of a large cohort of genetically diagnosed individuals with hyperPP. We surveyed genetically characterized individuals age 18 and over to assess disease comorbidities, diagnostic testing, management, and quality of life issues relevant to hyperPP. Myotonia was reported by 55.8 % of subjects and paramyotonia by 45.3 %. There is a relative risk of 3.6 (p < 0.0001) for thyroid dysfunction compared to the general population. Twenty-five percent of subjects experienced their sentinel attack in the second decade of life. It took an average of 19.4 years and visits to four physicians to arrive at the diagnosis of hyperPP. In addition to limbs and hands being affected during attacks, 26.1 % of subjects reported their breathing musculature was affected and 62.0 % reported their facial muscles were affected. There was a lifelong trend of increasing attack frequency, which was particularly common during childhood and adolescence. Approximately one-third of individuals experienced progressive myopathy. Permanent muscle weakness was evident and worsened during childhood and after age 40. Those with no chronic treatment regimen have a RR of 2.3 for inadequate disease control compared to those taking long-term medications. This study revealed a multitude of heretofore unidentified characteristics of hyperPP, in addition to providing a different perspective on some previously held notions regarding the condition.

Show MeSH

Related in: MedlinePlus

Subjects reported those areas of the body affected during attacks. Arms and hands are just as frequently affected during attacks as thighs and calves. Furthermore, facial and breathing musculature are affected during attacks in a significant number of individuals

Related In: Results - Collection

Show All Figures

getmorefigures.php?uid=PMC3824221&req=5

Fig2: Subjects reported those areas of the body affected during attacks. Arms and hands are just as frequently affected during attacks as thighs and calves. Furthermore, facial and breathing musculature are affected during attacks in a significant number of individuals

Mentions: Subjects most commonly described their attacks as stiffness followed by weakness, although many described their attacks as some other permutation of weakness and/or stiffness. Regions of the body typically affected by attacks are shown in Fig. 2. The arms and hands are just as frequently affected as the thighs and calves. In contrast to prior literature [11], 26.1 % of subjects reported that their breathing musculature was affected and 62.0 % reported that their face was affected during attacks, 2.2 % reported being unable to speak during a typical attack. Current clinical understanding is that sphincter tone is not altered during attacks [11], however, two subjects reported bowel incontinence and seven reported bladder incontinence during attacks.Fig. 2