Tetraparesis with Major Hypokalaemia and Rhabdomyolysis Induced by Chronic Liquorice Ingestion

Authors

• Hassene Attout Internal Medicine Unit, General Hospital, Ales, France
• Andry Randriajohany Internal Medicine Unit, GHER, Saint-Benoit, Réunion
• Françoise Josse Internal Medicine Unit, GHER, Saint-Benoit, Réunion
• Vincent Appavoupoule Internal Medicine Unit, GHER, Saint-Benoit, Réunion
• Yoga Thirapathi Internal Medicine Unit, GHER, Saint-Benoit, Réunion

dr.attout@ch-ales.fr

Keywords

Abstract

Chronic ingestion of liquorice induces a syndrome with findings similar to those for primary hyperaldosteronism. This is characterized by hypokalaemia, hypertension, metabolic alkalosis and suppression of the renin-aldosterone system.
We describe a 30-year-old woman who, with a plasma potassium level of 1.5 mmol/l, presented with tetraparesis and severe rhabdomyolysis (CK up to 35,460 U/l). She admitted to a daily consumption of nearly 300 g of liquorice sweets during the previous 6 months. This case emphasizes the importance of a detailed anamnesis, which is essential for diagnosis, avoids unnecessary and expensive investigations and reduces the duration of hospitalization.