Hyperkalemia
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Basics
Description
- Hyperkalemia: Serum potassium >5.5 mEq/L
- Mild: 5.5–6.4 mEq/L
- Moderate: 6.5–7.5 mEq/L
- Severe: >7.5 mEq/L
- 98% of total body potassium is found intracellularly
- Cellular potassium gradient is maintained by Na-K ATPase
- Functions of intra and extracellular potassium gradient:
- Resting cell membrane potential
- Cardiac activity
- Muscle and nerve activity
Etiology
- Increased intake:
- Potassium supplementation
- Food high in potassium
- RBC transfusion
- Impaired excretion:
- Acute kidney injury
- Hypoaldosteronism
- Primary renal tubular defect
- Pseudohyperkalemia:
- Hemolysis
- IV fluid with potassium
- Cooling of blood specimen
- Medication induced:
- ACE inhibitors
- Potassium sparing diuretics
- Penicillin G potassium
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Basics
Description
- Hyperkalemia: Serum potassium >5.5 mEq/L
- Mild: 5.5–6.4 mEq/L
- Moderate: 6.5–7.5 mEq/L
- Severe: >7.5 mEq/L
- 98% of total body potassium is found intracellularly
- Cellular potassium gradient is maintained by Na-K ATPase
- Functions of intra and extracellular potassium gradient:
- Resting cell membrane potential
- Cardiac activity
- Muscle and nerve activity
Etiology
- Increased intake:
- Potassium supplementation
- Food high in potassium
- RBC transfusion
- Impaired excretion:
- Acute kidney injury
- Hypoaldosteronism
- Primary renal tubular defect
- Pseudohyperkalemia:
- Hemolysis
- IV fluid with potassium
- Cooling of blood specimen
- Medication induced:
- ACE inhibitors
- Potassium sparing diuretics
- Penicillin G potassium
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