Type 3 renal tubular acidosis

Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is a group of transport defects in the reabsorption of bicarbonate, the excretion of hydrogen ion (H(+)), or both, resulting in systemic acidosis and hypokalemia with a normal glomerular filtration rate. Although isolated proximal (type 2) or distal (type 1) tubular pathologies are well characterized, a combined pathology leading to type 3 RTA is very rare. Here, we report a case of type 3 RTA, using an algorithmic approach to classify a scenario of hypokalemic metabolic acidosis in the setting of episodic flaccid paralysis.