Hypokalaemia


  • Rarely due to low intake

  • Increased entry into cells

    • Increased pH

    • increase insulin

    • increased beta-adrenergic activity (inc Beta2-Agonists )

    • Pseudohypokalaemia

    • periodic paralysis

    • hypothermia

    • increased gastrointestinal loss

  • increased urinary loss

    • e.g. diuretics

    • mineralocorticoid excess

    • sodium re-absorption with non-reabsorbable anion

  • vomiting / nasogastric suction

Hypokalaemia

?urinary potassium excretion

<25mmol/day
  • previous diuretic therapy
  • GI losses
>30 mmol/24h

?plasma renin activity

Low

?plasma aldosterone

High
  • Cushing's
  • Renovascular hypertension
  • renin secreting tumour
high
  • primary hyperaldosteronism

?adrenal vein aldosterone & CT scan

low
  • liquorice
  • mineralocorticoid
lateralising adenoma non-lateralising hyperplasia
 

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