Acute quadriplegia in a 34-year-old man

A 34-year-old man of Native American descent had flaccid paralysis of the extremities 2 days after a camping trip. He had no respiratory difficulty, sensory deficit, or abnormal reflexes. He was subsequently found to have a serum potassium level of 1.6 mEq/L, a thyrotropin level of <0.06 microIU/L, and a free thyroxin level of 5.30 ng/dL. Thyroid uptake and scan were consistent with those of Graves' disease. Symptoms rapidly resolved with potassium chloride, propranolol, prednisone, and antithyroid therapy. No further episodes occurred.