[Clinical and muscle istochemical observations in secondary hypokalaemia (author's transl)]

A case of hypokalaemia due to chronic administration of Clortalydone is reported. The histochemistry of muscle biopsy showed the morphologic changes which are usually found in the muscle fibers of periodic familial paralysis (necrotic fibers, accumulation of PAS positive substance, inflammatory cells, intermyofibrillar network degeneration, increase of lipids content). Such findings suggest some clues to the pathophysiology of the essential hypokalaemic paralysis and the possible practical importance of these histopathologic muscular findings in the diagnosis of secondary hypokalaemia.