Flaccid paresis due to distal renal tubular acidosis preceding systemic lupus erythematosus.

We report a 25-year-old woman presenting with a flaccid paresis due to severe hypokalaemia as a consequence of distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA). Six years after presentation of dRTA, she developed overt symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). dRTA in SLE is often secondary to an interstitial nephritis. In contrast to other reports the dRTA did not resolve after treatment with prednisone in our patient. Nephrocalcinosis might be one of the causal factors in the persistence of dRTA.