Citation

Luchon L, Meyrier A, Paillard F. Nephrologie 1993; 14(4): 177-181.

Vernacular Title

Hypokaliemie sans hypertension arterielle par intoxication a la reglisse.

Affiliation

Service de Néphrologie, Hôpital Avicenne, Bobigny.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Médecine et Hygiène)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8232712

Abstract

We report a case of chronic intoxication with glycyrrhizinic acid, at a dosage of 1000 to 1500 mg per month over a period of 11 months, in a former alcoholic. This intoxication was revealed by profound hypokalaemia and rhabdomyolysis. However, blood pressure remained constantly normal. Analysis of the literature shows that liquorice intoxication, which blocks renal 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase evolves more frequently as isolated hypokalaemia than as a picture of pseudo-primary hyperaldosteronism accompanied with hypertension. Hypokalaemia with urinary potassium wasting and without hypertension should therefore lead to considering liquorice intoxication, which can be confirmed by disclosing shut-off of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis, and by the increase of the urinary ratio of cortisol metabolites (5 alpha tetrahydrocortisol + 5 beta tetrahydrocortisol)./cortisone metabolite (5 beta tetrahydrocortisol). together with increase of urinary free cortisol excretion.

Language: fr