An Unusual Case Of Refractory Hypokalemia

Hypokalemia is seen in about 20 percent of hospitalised patients. An unusual cause of hypokalemia is Cushings syndrome due to increase in Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH). When increase in ACTH is due to ectopic secretion, hypokalemia is seen in 60-100 percent of patients.The classic morphological features of Cushing's syndrome may be absent in such patients.The infrequency with which this scenario is encountered poses a formidable diagnostic challenge.We report one such instance from our centre.