Quadriplegia and rhabdomyolysis as a presenting feature of Conn’s syndrome

Abstract

Conn’s syndrome is an important endocrine cause for secondary hypertension. Hypokalaemia paralysis and rhabdomyolysis with accelerated hypertension may be the presenting symptoms of Conn’s syndrome. Here, we present one such case of a 38-year-old woman presenting with accelerated hypertension and acute onset quadriplegia. On biochemical evaluation, she was found to have severe hypokalaemia, metabolic alkalosis and elevated creatinine phosphokinase. Further evaluation revealed an elevated aldosterone renin ratio suggestive of primary hyperaldosteronism which was localised to left adrenal adenoma on contrast-enhanced CT. Patient’s blood pressure and serum potassium levels normalised after resection of the adrenal adenoma.