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Case Reports
. 2017 Feb 23:5:2050313X17695717.
doi: 10.1177/2050313X17695717. eCollection 2017.

A cola-induced hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis with electromyographic evaluation: A case report

Davide Ferrazzoli  1 , Annarita Sabetta  1 , Grazia Palamara  1 , Luca Caremani  1 , Marina Capobianco  1 , Pietro Balbi  2 , Giuseppe Frazzitta  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

A cola-induced hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis with electromyographic evaluation: A case report

Davide Ferrazzoli et al. SAGE Open Med Case Rep. .

Abstract

Objective: To report a rare case of hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis induced by the heavy and prolonged ingestion of cola-based beverages, and its uneventful recovery after kalemia normalization.

Methods: We report a 38-year-old Caucasian male presented in our emergency room with a recent and progressive weakness of the lower limbs proximal muscles.

Results: A dietary history revealed a prolonged ingestion of cola-based beverages. Blood tests showed severe hypokalemia and marked increase in serum creatine phosphokinase. The analysis of cerebrospinal fluid resulted normal. Electromyography was suggestive for a myopathy. The clinical, laboratory and neurophysiological data were evocative for a cola-induced hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis. After kalemia normalization, the improvements of the electromyographic findings paralleled the clinical recovery.

Conclusion: Chronic consumption of large amount of cola-based soft drinks may result in severe symptomatic hypokalemia, eventually leading in turn to myopathy. To our knowledge, this is the first description of the electromyographic findings of the cola-induced hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis. An early diagnosis and a prompt treatment appear to be crucial for a benign clinical course.

Keywords: Coca cola; electromyography; hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.

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