Hypokalemic Periodic paralysis in Graves' Disease

Thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis is a rare endocrine disorder, most prevalent among Asians, which presents as proximal muscle weakness, hypokalemia, and with signs of hyperthyroidism from various etiologies. It is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by acute and recurrent episodes of muscle weakness concomitant with a decrease in blood potassium levels below the reference range, lasting from hours to days, and is often triggered by physical activity or ingestion of carbohydrates. Although hypokalemic periodic paralysis is a common complication of hyperthyroidism among Asian populations, it has never been documented since in Korea. We report a case of male patient with Graves' disease accompanied by hypokalemic periodic paralysis that was treated by total thyroidectomy, and present a literature review.