• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.470-474
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• 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
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.65-69
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• 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.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 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
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.230-235
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• 2010

Patients with moderate to severe degrees of Henoch-Sch$\ddot{o}$nlein purpura (HSP) nephritis receive high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy (IMPT). Although the regimen is generally safe and effective, various complications occasionally develop. administration of excessive corticosteroid can induce urinary potassium wasting leading to hypokalemia. Polyuria, one of the complications of hypokalemia, is related to both increased thirst and mild nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. And hypokalemia itself also impairs the maximal renal urinary concentration ability. Although polyuria or nocturia after IMPT is not common, it is correctable immediately by oral potassium supplementation. Therefore, during IMPT, careful history taking of nocturia as well as monitoring urine volume, serum and urine potassium level at regular follow-up are necessary because even mild hypokalemia can provoke urine concentrating ability defect. We experienced a case of 11 year-old boy with HSP nephritis who suffered from hypokalemia-induced polyuria with nocturia right after IMPT.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.132-142
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• 2010

Hypokalemia usually reflects total body potassium deficiency, but less commonly results from transcellular potassium redistribution with normal body potassium stores. The differential diagnosis of hypokalemia includes pseudohypokalemia, cellular potassium redistribution, inadequate potassium intake, excessive cutaneous or gastrointestinal potassium loss, and renal potassium wasting. To discriminate excessive renal from extrarenal potassium losses as a cause for hypokalemia, urine potassium concentration or TTKG should be measured. Decreased values are indicative of extrarenal losses or inadequate intake. In contrast, excessive renal potassium losses are expected with increased values. Renal potassium wasting with normal or low blood pressure suggests hypokalemia associated with acidosis, vomiting, tubular disorders or increased renal potassium secretion. In hypokalemia associated with hypertension, plasam renin and aldosterone should be measured to differentiated among hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism, primary hyperaldosteronism, and mineralocorticoid excess other than aldosterone or target organ activation. Hypokalemia may manifest as weakness, seizure, myalgia, rhabdomyolysis, constipation, ileus, arrhythmia, paresthesias, etc. Therapy for hypokalemia consists of treatment of underlying disease and potassium supplementation. The evaluation of hyperkalemia is also a multistep process. The differential diagnosis of hyperkalemia includes pseudohypokalemia, redistribution, and true hyperkalemia. True hyperkalemia associated with decreased glomerular filtration rate is associated with renal failure or increased body potassium contents. When glomerular filtration rate is above 15 mL/min/$1.73m^2$, plasma renin and aldosterone must be measured to differentiate hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism, primary aldosteronism, disturbance of aldosterone action or target organ dysfunction. Hyperkalemia can cause arrhythmia, paresthesias, fatigue, etc. Therapy for hyperkalemia consists of administration of calcium gluconate, insulin, beta2 agonist, bicarbonate, furosemide, resin and dialysis. Potassium intake must be restricted and associated drugs should be withdrawn.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.21-24
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• 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
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 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
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 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
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.197-203
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• 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
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.50-52
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• 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.