A clinical analysis of 9 cases of Gitelman syndrome

• Published in: Chung-hua nei kʿo tsa chih Vol. 45; no. 8; p. 650
• Main Authors: Yang, Guo-qing, Zhao, Lei, Xi, Wen-qi, Mu, Yi-ming, Dou, Jing-tao, Lu, Ju-ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China 01.08.2006
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Alkalosis - diagnosis; Alkalosis - drug therapy; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Hypocalcemia - diagnosis; Hypocalcemia - drug therapy; Hypokalemia - diagnosis; Hypokalemia - drug therapy; Magnesium Deficiency - diagnosis; Magnesium Deficiency - drug therapy; Male; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Syndrome
• ISSN: 0578-1426

To analyze the clinical characteristics of Gitelman syndrome. Clinical data of 9 cases of Gitelman syndrome seen in the past 25 years in Chinese PLA General Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The age of onset of Gitelman syndrome was 14 - 33 years. Main symptoms included weakness, tetany, polydipsia, polyuria, nocturia and paralysis. All patients had normal blood pressure. The biochemical tests showed hypokalemic alkalosis (9/9), hypocalciuria and hypomagnesaemia (9/9), low urine Ca/Cr ratio (<0.2, 5/5) and hyperreninemia (9/9). Renal pathological examination showed juxtaglomerular apparatus hyperplasia (2/2). All the patients' symptoms were relieved after treatment with potassium and magnesium supplementation or with combined spironolactone and indomethacin. However, serum potassium and magnesium levels were still lower than normal range (8/9); only one patient's serum potassium recovered to normal level. When clinical features such as weakness, hypokalemic alkalosis with normotension were encountered,