Severe hypokalemia causes temporary paralysis in 25‑year‑old Vietnamese man

A 25‑year‑old man from Dong Nai, Vietnam, experienced sudden quadriplegia after waking. He had a history of hyperthyroidism diagnosed six months earlier but stopped his medication on his own. Blood tests revealed critically low potassium (1.75 mmol/L) and uncontrolled thyroid activity. The medical team at Medlatec Thanh Xuân, led by Dr. Hoàng Minh Toại, administered intravenous potassium chloride and sodium chloride carefully to avoid rapid electrolyte shifts. Within hours the patient’s muscle strength began to improve, and after six hours the paralysis resolved completely, with muscle power returning to normal.

The case highlights the danger of untreated hyperthyroidism combined with severe hypokalemia, which can lead to muscle weakness, paralysis, and potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias if not promptly corrected.