• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제49권5호
• /
• pp.470-474
• /
• 2006

Hypokalemia and hyperkalemia are the most commonly encountered electrolyte abnormalities in hospitalized patients. Because untreated hypokalemia or hyperkalemia is associated with high morbidity and mortality, it is important to recognize and treat them immediately. Hypokalemia and hyperkalemia can result from disruptions in transcellular homeostasis or in the renal regulation of $K^+$ excretion. Although the recognition is simple, appropriate management requires an understanding of normal $K^+$ homeostasis and pathophysiology. In this article, normal $K^+$ homeostasis, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of hypokalemia and hypokalemia are discussed.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• 제38권1호
• /
• pp.65-69
• /
• 2021

Donepezil is a cholinesterase inhibitor used extensively to treat Alzheimer disease. The increased cholinergic activity is associated with adverse effects, therefore gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, are common. Hypokalemia is a rare adverse event that occurs in less than 1% of donepezil-treated patients. Although hypokalemia of mild and moderate grade does not present serious signs and symptoms, severe hypokalemia often results in prolonged hospitalization and mortality. Herein, we report a case of hypokalemia developed after the initiation of donepezil therapy for cognitive impairment.

• 한국임상약학회지
• /
• 제22권2호
• /
• pp.153-159
• /
• 2012

Licorice is a very useful herbal medicine frequently prescribed, but glycyrrhizin, one of its components, can cause pseudoaldosteronism presenting hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis and hypertension as a result of prolonging a biological half-life of systemic steroid by strongly inhibiting the enzyme $11{\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2. The risk factors for this side effect are still unclear. Here, 479 hospitalized patients taking herbal medicines including licorice for more than five days were recruited to analyze their serum potassium levels, under following parameters ; age and gender of patient, dose and period of licorice, disease state such as hypertension and with or without diuretics. They were divided into the non-occurrence group (over 3.5 mEq/L) and the occurrence group (under 3.5 mEq/L) of hypokalemia based on serum potassium levels during hospitalization. The average ages of the non-occurrence group and the occurrence group were $52.6{\pm}17.8$ and $68{\pm}10.5$, respectively (p < 0.001). But there were no noticeable differences in the daily dose of licorice, days of taking, and total dose between groups. Regression analysis showed that odd ratio of age (>60) and taking diuretics inducing hypokalemia was 3.5 (95%CI 1.5-8.1), 4.6 (95%CI 2.0-10.9) that indicates significant correlation with hypokalemia. Based upon this analysis, it is imperative to monitor regularly the risk of pseudoaldosteronism or hypokalemia not only when administered licorice of high dose for long period but also when combined it with diuretics causing hypokalemia to the elderly patients over 60 year old.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• 제14권2호
• /
• pp.230-235
• /
• 2010

경정맥 고용량 스테로이드 충격요법(IMPT)의 부작용으로는 고혈압, 동성 서맥, 심방심실 전도장애, 심방 세동, 심방 조동, 심실 빈맥 등의 부정맥, 구토, 구역질 등의 소화기 장애, 백내장, 저칼륨혈증, 그리고 감염성 질환 등이 있다. 그중, 저칼륨혈증은 IMPT를 받는 환자의 17% 정도에서 경미하게 나타날 수 있다. 저칼륨혈증이 신수질의 요농축 능력을 저하시켜 다뇨가 발생할 수 있다는 사실은 이미 알려져 있지만, IMPT후 경미한 저칼륨혈증으로 인해 심한 야간뇨과 다뇨증이 발생하였다는 보고는 별로 없다. 이에 본 저자들은 다량의 단백뇨와 혈뇨를 보이는 HSP 신염환자에게 세 차례의 IMPT 시행 후 환아에게 발생한 경미한 저칼륨혈증으로 인한 심한 야간뇨와 다뇨증의 발생을 경험하였기에 이에 보고하는 바이다.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• 제14권2호
• /
• pp.132-142
• /
• 2010

저칼륨혈증의 경우 약제 또는 백혈구 증가증 등에 의해서 칼륨이 일시적으로 세포내로 이동하는 재분포에 의해서 생기는 저칼륨혈증을 먼저 감별한다. 칼륨소실에 의한 결핍의 경우 소변 칼륨 농도 또는 TTKG를 구하고, 감소되어 있는 경우에는 칼륨의 신외성 손실, 칼륨 섭취의 부족 등을 감별한다. 증가되어 있는 경우 신장을 통한 칼륨의 소실을 생각하고, 고혈압이 동반되어 있지 않을 경우 산증과 관련된 경우, 구토에 의한 경우, 세뇨관에서의 칼륨 재흡수 장애 또는 칼륨의 분비가 증가되는 경우를 생각할 수 있다. 고혈압이 동반되어 있을 경우 혈장 레닌과 알도스테론을 측정하여 레닌이 증가되어 있을 경우, 혈장 레닌이 정상 또는 낮으면서 혈장 알도스테론만 증가한 경우, 혈장 알도스테론은 증가되어 있지 않지만 알도스테론 이외에 광물부신겉질호르몬의 작용이 증가하는 경우를 감별한다. 증상은 무기력, 경련, 근육통, 횡문근 융해증, 변비, 장폐쇄, 부정맥, 지각이상 등이 있다. 치료는 원인 질환의 치료 및 칼륨공급이다. 고칼륨혈증은 재분포에 의한 경우, 가성 고칼륨혈증, 진성 고칼륨혈증을 감별해야 한다. 진성 고칼륨혈증이면서 사구체 여과율이 감소되어 있는 경우 신부전 또는 체내 칼륨 부하가 증가하는 경우를 감별한다. 사구체 여과율이 15 mL/min/$1.73m^2$ 이상인 경우에는 혈장 레닌과 알도스테론을 검사한다. 모두 낮을 경우, 혈장 레닌은 정상이지만 알도스테론만 낮은 경우, 혈장 알도스테론의 농도는 정상이지만 알도스테론의 작용을 저해되는 경우 등을 감별해야 한다. 증상은 부정맥, 감각 이상, 허약 등이 있다. 치료는 calcium gluconate, 인슐린, 베타2작용제, 중탄산염, furosemide, resin, 투석 등이 있으며, 칼륨을 제한하고 원인 약물이 있을 경우 이를 중단해야 한다.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• 제18권1호
• /
• pp.21-24
• /
• 2016

Primary aldosteronism is one of the most common cause of secondary hypertension and can be accompanied with hypokalemia. Rhabdomyolysis with hypokalemia in primary aldosteronism has been rarely reported. We describe a patient of primary aldosteronism who presented with limb-girdle type weakness.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• 제25권1호
• /
• pp.35-39
• /
• 2021

Bartter syndrome is an autosomal recessive hypokalemic salt-losing tubulopathy, and classic Bartter syndrome is associated with mutations in the CLCNKB gene. While chronic hypokalemia is known to induce renal cyst formation in different renal diseases, renal cyst formation in Bartter syndrome is rarely reported. Russian six-year-old identical male twins were referred to our hospital for the evaluation of renal cysts, which were incidentally detected on abdominal sonography due to diarrhea. Both twins had shown symptoms of polydipsia, polyuria, and nocturia since they were one year olds. Vital signs including blood pressure were normal in both twins. Renal sonography revealed nephromegaly, increased echogenicity of renal cortex, and various sized multiple cysts in both kidneys for both twins. Laboratory findings included hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypochloremia, and metabolic alkalosis. Bartter syndrome with renal cysts were suspected. Genetic analysis for both twins confirmed a homozygous c.1614delC deletion on exon 15 of the CLCNKB gene, which was confirmed as a previously unreported variant to the best of our knowledge. They were managed with potassium chloride, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors. Metabolic alkalosis, hypokalemia, hypochloremia, and polyuria partially improved during the short course of treatment. This is the first report of a homozygous mutation in the CLCNKB gene in an identical twin, presenting with renal cysts.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• 제29권2호
• /
• pp.113-117
• /
• 2012

Primary aldosteronism is characterized by hypertension, hypokalemia, and metabolic alkalosis, associated with excessive aldosterone production and suppressed plasma renin activity. Hypokalemia-induced rhabdomyolysis has been rarely reported in primary aldosteronism patients. This paper reports a case of primary aldosteronism presented with rhabdomyolysis due to severe hypokalemia. A 48-year-old male with a three-year history of hypertension presented himself at the authors' hospital with generalized weakness and myalgia in both legs over a period of several days. His laboratory findings showed hypokalemia (1.8 mEq/L) with elevations of his serum creatine phosphokinase and serum myoglobin. His plasma aldosterone level was also elevated, and his plasma renin activity was reduced. An abdominal computed tomography revealed a 2.0 cm hypodense mass in the left adrenal gland, which suggested adrenal adenoma. The accordingly underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Three months later, his plasma potassium level and blood pressure became normal without the use of medications.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제57권3호
• /
• pp.197-203
• /
• 2015

Objective : The potassium disturbance associated with thiopental continuous infusion in neurosurgical patients is well known. However, the effect of propofol continuous infusion on serum potassium levels has not been investigated extensively. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of 60 consecutive patients who received coma therapy or deep sedation for intracranial pressure control using either thiopental or propofol between January 2010 and January 2012. Results : The overall incidence of hypokalemia (K<3.5 mmol/L) was comparable between thiopental and propofol groups (89.2% vs. 82.6%). But, the incidence of moderate to severe hypokalemia (K<3.0 mmol/L) was significantly higher in thiopental group (51.4% vs. 13.0%, p=0.003). The lowest potassium level (2.9 mmol/L vs. 3.2 mmol/L, p=0.020) was lower in thiopental group. The patients in the thiopental group required greater potassium replacement than the propofol group patients (0.08 mmol/kg/h vs. 0.02 mmol/kg/h, p<0.001). On multivariate analysis, thiopental [odds ratio, 95% confidence interval, 7.31 (1.78-27.81); p=0.005] was associated with moderate to severe hypokalemia during continuous infusion. The incidence of rebound hyperkalemia (K>5.0 mmol/L, 32.4% vs. 4.3%, p=0.010) and the peak potassium concentration (4.8 mmol/L vs. 4.2 mmol/L, p=0.037) after the cessation of therapy were higher in thiopental group. On multivariate analysis, thiopental [8.82 (1.00-77.81); p=0.049] and duration of continuous infusion [1.02 (1.00-1.04); p=0.016] were associated with rebound hyperkalemia once therapy was discontinued. Conclusion : Propofol was less frequently associated with moderate to severe hypokalemia after induction and rebound hyperkalemia following the cessation of continuous infusion than thiopental.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• 제3권1호
• /
• pp.50-52
• /
• 2001

Licorice is widely used as a Chinese(herbal) medicine. The glycyrrhizin, a main ingredient of the natural licorice, has a potent mineralocorticoid effect which may cause severe hypokalemia and muscle paralysis. We present a 60-year-old woman, who had been ingesting one or two spoonful of licorice powder daily for about one year, developed acute flaccid quadriparesis with high levels of serum muscle enzymes and the typical features of mineralocorticoid excess such as severe hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis. Both plasma renin activity and serum aldosterone level were below the normal values. This case indicates that licorice-induced hypokalemic myopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patient with acute quadriparesis and hypokalemia.