From the Research
Correlation between Hypokalemia and Deafness
- There are several studies that suggest a correlation between hypokalemia and deafness, particularly in certain genetic syndromes 1, 2, 3, 4.
- For example, a study published in 1988 reported a case of sudden deafness in a man with thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis, suggesting that circulatory insufficiency and electrolyte imbalance in the inner ear may have caused the deafness 1.
- Another study published in 2020 reported a case of a 3-year-old boy with Bartter syndrome type 4, which is characterized by hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, sensorineural deafness, and other abnormalities 2.
- A 2022 case report described a patient with Pendred syndrome, an autosomal recessive disorder that causes sensorineural hearing loss, inner ear malformations, and hypokalemia, highlighting the importance of evaluating hearing loss in patients with genetic syndromes 3.
- A 2001 study characterized a rare inherited hypokalemic salt-losing tubulopathy with chronic renal failure and sensorineural deafness, suggesting a pleiotropic effect of a single gene defect as the cause of syndromic hearing loss 4.
- In contrast, a 2019 study found an inverse association between potassium intake and hearing thresholds in the Korean adult population, suggesting that high potassium intake may be associated with a lower prevalence of hearing loss 5.