Periodic Paralysis in Young People in an African Setting: Two Unexpected Causes in Cameroon
Paralysie Périodique Chez le Jeune en Milieu Africain : Deux Étiologies Inattendues au Cameroun
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19635825Keywords:
Periodic paralysis, CACNA1S gene mutation, Thyrotoxicosis, CameroonAbstract
Periodic paralysis in young individuals is a rare neuromuscular disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of muscle weakness that resolve spontaneously or following appropriate treatment. We report two cases of periodic paralysis in young patients presenting with similar clinical features. The clinical picture was dominated by quadriplegia associated with hypokalemia. The underlying causes were a mutation of the CACNA1S gene in the first patient and Graves' disease in the second. The outcome was favorable after correction of hypokalemia in the first case and after appropriate management of hyperthyroidism in the second, with complete resolution of paralytic episodes. These two cases highlight the importance of considering periodic paralysis in any presentation of acute flaccid paralysis in the Black African population, particularly in young male patients.
References
Statland JM, Fontaine B, Hanna MG, Johnson NE, Kissel JT, Sansone VA, et al. INVITED REVIEW REVIEW OF THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF PERIODIC PARALYSIS. Muscle Nerve. 2018;57:522–30. DOI: 10.1002/mus.26009
2. Fontaine B, Fournier E, Sternberg D, Vicart S, Tabti N. Hypokalemic periodic paralysis: a model for a clinical and research approach to a rare disorder. Neurotherapeutics. Neurotherapeutics; 2007;4(2):225–32. DOI: 10.1016/J.NURT.2007.01.002
3. Pili S, Devèze A, Iacobone M, Guibout M, Henry JF. [Thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis. Report of three cases]. Ann Chir. Ann Chir; 2002;127(4):297–9. DOI: 10.1016/S0003-3944(02)00742-3
4. Alhasan KA, Abdallah MS, Kari JA, Bashiri FA. Hypokalemic periodic paralysis due to CACNA1S gene mutation. Neurosciences. Saudi Arabian Armed Forces Hospital; 2019;24(3):225. DOI: 10.17712/NSJ.2018.3.20180005
5. Matta A, Koppala J, Gossman W. Thyrotoxic hypokalaemic periodic paralysis: a rare presentation of Graves’ disease in a Hispanic patient. BMJ Case Rep. BMJ Case Rep; 2014;2014. DOI: 10.1136/BCR-2014-204198
6. Hsieh MJ, Lyu RK, Chang WN, Chang KH, Chen CM, Chang HS, et al. Hypokalemic thyrotoxic periodic paralysis: clinical characteristics and predictors of recurrent paralytic attacks. Eur J Neurol. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2008;15(6):559–64. DOI: 10.1111/J.1468-1331.2008.02132.X
7. Fontaine B. Periodic paralysis. Adv Genet. Adv Genet; 2008;63:3–23. DOI: 10.1016/S0065-2660(08)01001-8
8. Kung AWC. Clinical review: Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis: a diagnostic challenge. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. J Clin Endocrinol Metab; 2006;91(7):2490–5. DOI: 10.1210/JC.2006-0356
9. Lin S-H. Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis. Mayo Clin Proc. Mayo Clin Proc; 2005;80(1):99–105. DOI: 10.1016/S0025-6196(11)62965-0
10. Manoukian MA, Foote JA, Crapo LM. Clinical and metabolic features of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis in 24 episodes. Arch Intern Med. Arch Intern Med; 1999;159(6):601–6. DOI: 10.1001/ARCHINTE.159.6.601
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Hassana Samir, Hadja Inna Astasselbe, Fouwou Njoya Charifa, Sidi Cedric Tchameni, Abdoul Aziz, Hamadou Bâ
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work
