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
- metabolic acidosis
- penicillin derivatives
- hypomagnesaemia
- increased sweat loss
- potassium depletion without hypokalaemia

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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