Symptomatic hypokalaemia and rhabdomyolysis due to excessive and long-term soft drink consumption: a case report

A 35-year-old man was admitted to the emergency room with the complaint of weakness of the extremities, which abruptly began in the morning. Only mild generalized muscle weakness was present on physical examination. Laboratory data showed hypokalaemia, elevation of creatinine phosphokinase and serum transaminases. He had been consuming 2.5 litres of soft drink per day for 20 years. There could not be found any metabolic, organic, traumatic and/or pharmacological reason to cause hypokalaemia and rhabdomyolysis other than the long-term and excess consumption of soft drinks. The patient was cured by the replacement of electrolytes and the avoidance of drinking soft drinks.