Talk:Periodic paralysis

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[edit] Darn

I thought when I first came across the title that it was about the type of paralysis I have, which is brief and transient. But it turns out it's its own disease. Oh well. So how does hyperthyroidism lead to temporary paralysis? - Cyborg Ninja 10:26, 27 July 2007 (UTC)

Well, that depends on if you have thyrotoxicosis or TPP (thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis). Extremity weakness often accompanies thyrotoxicosis, along with cardiac symptoms. In general, thyrotoxicosis leads to hypokalemia. This decrease in serum potassium prevents the Na+/K+-ATPase from properly maintaining ionic gradients and establishing the resting membrane potential (RMP). Thyroid hormones also modulate the levels of many ion channels. This along with aforementioned RMP alterations leads, presumably, to gradual depolarization to the point where voltage-gated channels can't recover from inactivation, at which point you're in a world of suckage. Hypokalemic periodic paralysis works in essentially the same way, though with and underlying channelopathy instead of concomitant thyrotoxicosis. If you want to know more about TPP you can contact me via email (from my user page). --Dpryan 19:42, 27 July 2007 (UTC)