We explored the effects of potassium treatment on dizziness in a patient experiencing a rare form of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) known as SCA13. This particular case was unusual because the patient primarily suffered from episodic rotational vertigo, alongside mild progressive cerebellar symptoms and cognitive impairment.
During our investigation, we identified a specific genetic variation in the potassium channel Kv3.3. To understand how this variant affected the patient, we conducted voltage-clamp recordings, revealing that while typical mutations in Kv3.3 exhibit dominant-negative properties, this particular variant primarily led to reduced current amplitude and increased inactivation.
Interestingly, we found that treatment with riluzole, a drug that can also activate potassium channels, showed some beneficial effects for our patient. Additionally, elevated potassium levels in the blood appeared to help minimize the inactivation effects caused by the Kv3.3 variant.
However, it's important to note that we didn't isolate the impact of potassium from other treatments, making it challenging to definitively say that potassium alone was responsible for any improvements. Overall, our findings suggest that potassium treatments, especially when blood levels are carefully managed, could offer new and innovative approaches for similar neurological disorders.