Discovery and Treatment of Action Potential‐Independent Myotonia in Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis

We propose myotonia in hyperKPP occurs via two mechanisms: (1) suprathreshold depolarization triggering action potentials that are detectable with EMG and (2) sustained subthreshold depolarization resulting in Na⁺ overload and Ca²⁺ leak from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Notably, clinical diagnostics such as EMG cannot detect the second mechanism as it occurs in the absence of action potentials. Currently, only a minority of patients with hyperKPP are treated with Na⁺ channel blockers and none are treated with dantrolene. Our data suggest hyperKPP patients, as well as patients with a number of other neuromuscular disorders, may benefit from trials of these therapies, even if they do not have myotonia detectable clinically or by EMG.