Publication:

Gitelman's syndrome - incidentally detected in an elderly female

Potassium is critical for many important cell functions. Hereditary tubulopathies can also present in adults with symptoms of recurrent hypokalemia. A 60 year female who was worked up for persistent hypokalemia during repeated admission with different etiology and presenting complaints. Bartter’s syndrome and Gitelman’s syndrome represent distinct variants of primary renal tubular hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis and are easily distinguished on the basis of urinary calcium levels. Therapeutic options in gitelmans syndrome include supplementation of  potassium and magnesium along with avoiding sodium depletion.