"Cardiac Arrest as the First Presentation of Gitelman Syndrome" by Abeselom Geletu, Jayna Gardner-Gray et al.

Nephrology Articles

Title

Cardiac Arrest as the First Presentation of Gitelman Syndrome

Authors

Abeselom Geletu, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Jayna Gardner-Gray, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Meaghan S. Roche, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Marina Ngassa, Henry Ford HealthFollow

Recommended Citation

Geletu A, Gardner-Gray J, Roche M, and Ngassa M. Cardiac Arrest as the First Presentation of Gitelman Syndrome. Cureus 2023; 15(1):e33565.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2023

Publication Title

Cureus

Abstract

Gitelman syndrome is a salt-wasting tubulopathy characterized by profound hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, metabolic alkalosis, and hypocalciuria. Cardiac arrest is a relatively rare manifestation of Gitelman syndrome. Here we present a case of Gitelman syndrome in a patient with recurrent cardiac arrest. A 43-year-old female was admitted for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest secondary to ventricular fibrillation. Initial workup revealed severe hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, metabolic alkalosis, and prolonged QTc. The workup revealed a picture of salt-wasting tubulopathy with hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and hypocalciuria. Potassium was repleted aggressively, and the patient received potassium-sparing agents resulting in the stabilization of potassium levels. Before discharge, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) was placed for secondary prevention of cardiac arrest. The patient remained symptom-free, and electrolytes remained stable. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of Gitelman syndrome and the importance of accurate diagnosis in improving patient outcomes.

PubMed ID

36779094

Volume

Issue

First Page

33565

Last Page