Some Forms of Periodic Paralysis are Worsened by Diamox

Hello All,

While researching I found out some interesting information about Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis. A study from 2001 relates two different types: CACNL1A3=Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis-1 and SCN4A=Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis-2, each with several mutations.

When someone is diagnosed with Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis, clinically, (based on their symptoms), one must be very careful. One form either does not respond to diamox (acetazolamide), causes more paralysis or causes serious symptoms. So, diamox should not automatically be given to people clinically diagnosed with Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis or if it is, it should be used with extreme caution.

From the article:

 “In conclusion the present study demonstrates that genetic characterization of hypoPP patients is important to decipher the clinical and histopathological features of the disease, and to predict the response to therapy. We suggest that mutations in the SCN4A gene should be systematically sought in hypoPP patients suffering from paralytic attacks followed by myalgias or worsened by acetazolamide, and when muscle biopsies reveal the presence of tubular aggregates.”

http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/124/6/1091.full.pdf


Until later….