Two cases of hypokalaemic rhabdomyolysis: same but different.

In this paper, we present two women with hypokalaemic rhabdomyolysis in the context of increased diuretic intake and gastroenteritis, respectively. While their clinical manifestations and laboratory results were strikingly similar, two different underlying disorders were subsequently unveiled. The first patient was diagnosed with Conn syndrome, and adrenalectomy led to significant improvement of hypertension and sustained normokalaemia. The diagnosis in the second patient was Gitelman syndrome. Electrolyte supplements improved long-term lassitude and the frequency of muscle cramps declined significantly. These case vignettes illustrate the importance of establishing the underlying cause of hypokalaemia. © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.