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Treatment With Digitalis and Lithium Carbonate

Wendelin Emser, MD

Arch Neurol. 1982;39(11):727-730.

Abstract
• An 18-year-old man suffering from a hereditary hyperkalemic periodic paralysis showed, in addition, a hypermagnesemic periodic paralysis with a 2.5-fold increase in serum magnesium level. All other serum electrolyte levels were normal. The hypermagnesemic periodic paralysis seems to have been caused by a disturbance of the renal tubular system. Thus, magnesium-stimulated paralysis was prevented by treatment with lithium carbonate and digitalis, which blocked the active ion transport.

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Homburg, Saar, West Germany.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Feb 15, 1982.

Reprint requests to Neurologische Universitátsklinik, Universität des Saarlandes, 6650 Homburg/Saar-FRG (West Germany) (Dr Emser).