A rare cause of hypokalemia: Gitelman syndrome

Abstract

Gitelman syndrome is a rare, inherited disorder. Hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, hypomagnesemia and hypocalciuria are the characteristic abnormalities of this syndrome. This syndrome can lead to growth retardation and to rarely serious complications such as paralysis and cardiac arrest. Therefore, early recognition and treatment are important. In this paper we reported a young adulthood with classic Gitelman syndrome. Electrolyte imbalances were resolved with treatment; however, further growth wasn't achieved since the epiphyses ofthe patients had been closed.