Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Brief Clinical Note

A case of hypokalemic myopathy induced by excessive drinking of a beverage containing green tea extract

Megumi Fukumoto, M.D.1), Nobuo Yamashiro, M.D.1), Fumikazu Kobayashi, M.D.1), Takamura Nagasaka, M.D., Ph.D.1) and Yoshihisa Takiyama, M.D., Ph.D.1)

1)Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi

A 49-year-old man subacutely developed muscle weakness in four extremities over a few days. He had no past or family history of muscle weakness. His blood tests showed significant hypokalemia without endocrinological abnormalities. With the diagnosis of hypokalemic myopathy, potassium was administered orally, and his symptoms improved. The patient had been drinking a beverage containing green tea extract too much two weeks before the symptoms developed, in addition to taking a cold remedy for ten years. Thus, hypokalemia is considered to be induced by the excessive intake of caffeine that accompanies the excessive consumption of the beverage and cold remedy.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (1590K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 53: 239|242, 2013)
key words: hypokalemia, hypokalemic myopathy, caffeine, beverage containing green tea extract

(Received: 10-May-12)