Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Hypokalemic myopathy associated with intranasal steroid use (factitious mineralocorticoid excess syndrome)

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Journal of Neurology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A patient is described, who had muscle necrosis occurring with hypokalemia and a factitious mineralocorticoid excess syndrome. The syndrome was due to the prolonged use of a nasal spray containing 9-alpha-fluoroprednisolone acetate, a steroid with potent mineralocorticoid activity. It is emphasized that intranasal administration of steroid compounds must be considered in the differential diagnosis of hypokalemia and related muscle disorders.

Zusammenfassung

Es wird ein Patient beschrieben, der hypokaliaemische Muskelnekrosen, ausgelöst durch einen exogenen Überschuß von Mineralcorticoiden, aufweist. Die Ursache war der langdauernde Gebrauch eines 9-alpha-fluorprednisolon-Nasensprays, ein Steroid mit einer starken mineralcorticoiden Aktivität. Intranasal verabreichte Steroide müssen in der Differentialdiagnose von Hypokaliaemie und dadurch hervorgerufenen Muskelveränderungen in Betracht gezogen werden.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bautista J, Gil-Neciga E, Gil-Peralta A (1979) Hypokalemic periodic paralysis in primary hyperaldosteronism. Subclinical myopathy with atrophy of type 2A muscle fibers. Eur Neurol 18:415–420

    Google Scholar 

  2. Beton DC (1966) Acute cadmium fume poisoning. Br J Ind Med 23:292–298

    Google Scholar 

  3. Camici M, Cini G, Donadio C, Pentimone F (1980) Clinical and pathogenetic notes on pseudohyperaldosteronism due to intranasal instillation of 9-alpha-fluoroprednisolone acetate and presentation of a personal case. Min Med (Italy) 71:563–566

    Google Scholar 

  4. Coers C, Telerman Toppet N, Cremer M (1971) Progressive vacuolar myopathy in steatorrhea. Arch Neurol 24:217–227

    Google Scholar 

  5. Corbett AJ, Pollock M (1981) Experimental potassium depletion myopathy. J Neurol Sci 49:193–206

    Google Scholar 

  6. Funder JW, Adam WR, Mantero F, Kraft N, Ulick S (1979) The etiology of a syndrome of factitious mineralocorticoid excess: a steroid containing nasal spray. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 49:842–846

    Google Scholar 

  7. Gallai M (1977) Myopathy with hyperaldosteronism. An electron microscopic study. J Neurol Sci 32:337–345

    Google Scholar 

  8. Gross EG, Dexter JD, Roth RG (1966) Hypokalemic myopathy with myoglobinuria associated with licorice ingestion. New Engl J Med 274:602–606

    Google Scholar 

  9. Jensen OB, Mosdal C, Reske Nielsen E (1977) Hypokalemic myopathy during treatment with diuretics. Acta Neurol Scand 55:483–492

    Google Scholar 

  10. Mantero F, Faglia G, Adam WR, Funder JW, Ulick S (1979) A new syndrome of factitious mineralocorticoid excess. 61st Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society, Anaheim, CA (abstract 828)

  11. Martin JB, Craig JW, Eckel RE, Munger J (1971) Hypokalemic myopathy in chronic alcoholism. Neurology (Minneap) 21:1160–1168

    Google Scholar 

  12. McChesny JA, Marquardt JF (1964) Hypokalemic paralysis induced by Amphotericin B. JAMA 189:1029–1031

    Google Scholar 

  13. Mohamed SD, Chapman RS, Crooks J (1966) Hypokalemia, flaccid quadriparesis and myoglobinuria with carbenoxolone. Br Med J 1:1581–1582

    Google Scholar 

  14. Morrison AB, Rawson AJ, Fitts WT (1962) The syndrome of refractory watery diarrhoea and hypokalemia in patients with a non-insulin secreting islet cell tumor. Amer J Med 32:119–127

    Google Scholar 

  15. Owen EE, Verner JW Jr (1960) Renal tubular disease with muscle paralysis and hypokalemia. Amer J Med 28:8–21

    Google Scholar 

  16. Rubenstein AE, Wainapel SF (1977) Acute hypokalemic myopathy in alcoholism. A clinical entity. Arch Neurol 34:553–555

    Google Scholar 

  17. Turner GR, Reed JB, Cole NM (1964) Villous adenomas with electrolyte derangement. Amer Surg 30:467–473

    Google Scholar 

  18. Van Horn G, Drori JB, Schwartz FD (1970). Hypokalemic myopathy and elevation of serum enzymes. Arch Neurol 22:335–341

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cantello, R., Bergamini, L., Delsedime, M. et al. Hypokalemic myopathy associated with intranasal steroid use (factitious mineralocorticoid excess syndrome). J Neurol 226, 265–268 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00313399

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00313399

Key words