BACKGROUND: Severe hypokalemia is known to cause muscle paralysis, and renal
tubular acidosis is a recognized cause. Cystic disease of the kidney is
associated with severe hypokalemia.
CASE PRESENTATION: We report a 33-year-old male patient who presented with
generalized limb weakness caused by severe hypokalemia due to renal tubular
acidosis, who was found to have renal medullary cysts.
CONCLUSION: The association of cystic renal disease with hypokalemia, and the
possible pathophysiological basis of the development of renal cysts in patients
with severe hypokalemia, are discussed.