Singh A, Apostolatos A, Iyer A, Bescobedo B, Middlemas M. Cannabis Use: An Uncommon Cause of Hypokalemia-Induced Acute Paralysis.
Cureus 2023;
15:e44393. [PMID:
37786569 PMCID:
PMC10541681 DOI:
10.7759/cureus.44393]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe hypokalemia can have life-threatening complications such as significant muscle weakness, ileus, rhabdomyolysis, and respiratory failure. Here, we report a case of a 33-year-old male who presented with worsening lower extremity weakness and falls after smoking marijuana for six months. Initial labs showed severe hypokalemia. EKG was remarkable for a first-degree AV block, widened QRS complex, and ST segment depression. Intravenous potassium replacement resulted in complete resolution of lower extremity motor weakness. Our case highlights the underdiagnosed association of marijuana use with clinically significant hypokalemia and the rare presentation of severe hypokalemia with acute paralysis.
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