Improvement of the exercise test after therapy in thyrotoxic periodic paralysis.

The diagnosis of periodic paralysis (PP) can be aided by demonstrating a decrease in compound motor action potential (CMAP) amplitude after several minutes of exercise. We report a case of secondary hypokalemic PP due to thyrotoxicosis in which the decrease in the CMAP amplitude after exercise dramatically improved after treatment, when a euthyroid state was achieved. The exercise test is a useful electrophysiologic means of monitoring the neuromuscular status of patients with thyrotoxic periodic paralysis prior to, and after treatment of the thyrotoxicosis.