Life threatening hyperkalaemia (> 7.0 mmol/l) is commonly associated with acute renal failure. Moderate hyperkalaemia (6.1-6.9 mmol/l) is also common and well tolerated in patients with chronic renal failure. Renal failure is the most common cause of hyperkalaemia although other causes to consider include drugs (potassium sparing diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors), hyperglycae...

The case notes of 20 infants with hyperkalaemia (defined as two successive serum potassium measurements of >7-5 mmol/l) were reviewed. The incidence of hyperkalaemia was also looked at in an unselected population of 200 low birthweight infants. The mean gestational age of the 20 affected infants was 29 weeks and the mean birth weight 1235 g. The incidence of hyperkalaemia in the cohort of 200 i...

BACKGROUND Various definitions of hyperkalaemia have been used in clinical research, and data from routine clinical practice on its incidence are sparse. We aimed to establish the incidence of hyperkalaemia in patients with newly diagnosed heart failure in the UK general population using different definitions for the condition. METHODS We conducted a large retrospective cohort study using dat...

Hyperkalaemia is defined as serum potassium concentration greater than 5.5 mmol/l. Its prevalence in the general population is unknown, but it is thought to occur in 1-10% of patients admitted to hospital.1 The rate of morbidity and mortality associated with hyperkalaemia has risen greatly with the use of drugs that target the renin-angiotensin system, and since publication 10 years ago of a ra...

Hyperkalaemia, an elevated extracellular fluid potassium concentration, is a common electrolyte disorder and is present in 1-10% of hospitalised patients. Elevated serum potassium concentrations are usually asymptomatic but may be associated with electrocardiogram (ECG) changes. Hyperkalaemia occasionally leads to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Prompt recognition of this disorder, patien...

OBJECTIVES Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole may cause hyperkalaemia by the amiloride-like effect of trimethoprim on sodium channels in the distal nephron. Hyperkalaemia usually occurs after 7-10 days and has been reported in 20%-50% of patients receiving trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Patients with Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia and severe hypoxaemia benefit from the use of prednisolone as an adj...

BACKGROUND We aimed to develop a model to estimate the risk of hyperkalaemia in patients treated for heart failure in a tertiary reference hospital and to identify precipitating factors. METHODS 125 congestive heart failure (CHF) patients were studied retrospectively. Thirty of these patients developed episodes of hyperkalaemia (K>or=5.5 mmol/l). Both groups were compared for possible risk fa...

The case notes of 20 infants with hyperkalaemia (defined as two successive serum potassium measurements of greater than 7.5 mmol/l) were reviewed. The incidence of hyperkalaemia was also looked at in an unselected population of 200 low birthweight infants. The mean gestational age of the 20 affected infants was 29 weeks and the mean birth weight 1235 g. The incidence of hyperkalemia in the coho...

Hyperkalaemia is a common electrolyte disorder with potentially lethal consequences and can lead to life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias. Spurious hyperkalaemia, also known as pseudohyperkalaemia or factitious hyperkalaemiais, is also quite common in clinical practice and it's a source of avoidable emergency department visits or hospital admissions. We report a case in which alarming hyperkala...

A patient who developed significant metabolic acidosis and severe hyperkalaemia while taking Moduretic (amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide) is reported. During the period of hyperkalaemia (maximum potassium 7-6 mmol/l) the patient's whole body potassium content was normal. His acid-base balance and serum potassium returned to normal some 10 days after stopping the drug. The possible mechanism of...