Hyperkalemia and Hypokalemia Ilan Marcuschamer M.D. Hadassah University Hospital Mount Scoppus

Potassium Balance K is the major intracelullar cation. It’s regulation is tightly regulated between the IC and EC compartments. Gradient mantained by Na/K ATPase 3NaX2K Creates electric charge of membrane: therefore Effects of abnormal K tend to manifest in electrically active tissues.

Potassium Balance Potassium Excretion: - 80% Excreted via kidneys. * Na delivery and urine flow in the distal and collecting tubules favor excretion. * Aldosterone directly stimulates the kidney to excrete K * Hyperkalemia increases aldosterone, which increases K excretion. - 15% Excreted via GI Tract (increases in RF) - 5 % Excreted through sweat

Potassium Balance Abnormalities in Serum K may result from Total body potassium depletion or excess, or alterations in the flux between IC and EC spaces. * Because of obligatory potassium losses, there is a minimum daily requirement of 40 – 50 mEq of K.

Acid – Base effects Acidosis Shifts K out of cells resulting in hyperkalemia. Alkalosis Shifts K into cells resulting in hypokalemia. Hormone effects Insuline and ß 2 agonists stimulates cellular uptake of K. α Agonists will shift K out of cells

Hypokalemia - Basics In the abscense of acid – base disorders or abnormal concentrations of insuline or chatecolamines: Hypokalemia almost always implies low total body K. May result from inadequate daily intake. More commonly results when K losses exceed potassium intake.

Hypokalemia – Clinical Presentation 1.Generalized muscle weakness, often mild and limited to lower extremities. 2.Paralysis may develop 3.Smooth muscle of intestine may be affected with development of paralytic ileus. 4.Cardiac electrical activity affected: Arrhythmias: Atrial tachycardia, A-V disociation, VT, VF. * Increased risk with high digoxin concentrations! * May predispose to osmotic demyelinization seen with hyponatremia treatment: If neurologically stable patients, correct K before Na.

Hypokalemia: DD Rule out inadequate intake Consider Renal LossesConsider GI LossesConsider IC redistribution K wasting diuretics Non reabsorbable anions Osmotic Diuresis Mineralocorticoid excess Glucocorticoid excess Hypomagnesemia Leukemia: 30% Gittelman, Bartter, Liddle Sx. Diarrhea Vomiting Nasogastric Suction Gastrointestinal fistula Laxative abuse Alkalosis Insuline admon Hyperglycemia Beta stimulation

Hypokalemia EKG Changes Increased amplitude and width of the P wave Prolongation of the PR interval T wave flattening and inversion ST depression Prominent U waves (best seen in the precordial leads)U waves Apparent) long QT interval due to fusion of the T and U waves (= long QU interval)

Hypokalemia Treatment Degree?? Symptoms?? 1.Investigate and treat underlying cause 2.Aggressive treatment to those with RF for arrhythmia developing. 3.Prevent further losses 4.Moderate to Severe: -3 mEq/L - Not severe/No symptoms: PO supplements. - Severe/Symptoms: IV supplements.

Hyperkalemia - Basics Less common than hypokalemia, ussualy implies some degree of RF. - Diabetics are twice as likely to develop hyperkalemia than non-diabetics. Sustained hyperkalemia rarely caused by excess K intake alone: Kidney very efficient. Aldosterone protects against hypernatremia by stimulating Renal K excretion Pseudohyperkalemia: Artifactual elevation in sample when serum K usually normal.

Hyperkalemia – Clinical presentation Related to K role in the membrane potential of cells: Symptoms worse with acute development. - Mild: mEq/L usually asymptomatic - Mod: Muscle weakness and paresthesias. * >6.5 mEq/L Areflexia, muscle paralysis, respiratory failure. - Severe: Cardiac manifestations are the most life threatening of hyperkalemia, but EKG changes are not a sensitive marker for the presence of hyperkalemia. * Bradycardia, A-V disociation, VT, VF may follow.

Hyperkalemia - DD Rule peusohyperkalemia Decreased K excretionIncreased K intakeEC K redistribution Decreased GFR Adrenal Insufficiency Hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism RTA IV Renal insensitivity to aldosterone Drugs K rich salt substitue Blood transfusion Potassium containing medications Celular lysis: (hemolysis, tumor lysis, rhabdomyolisis) Metabolic Acidosis Insulin deficient state Beta blockade (rare)

Food 1. White Beans2. Darky leafy greens (spinach)3. Potatoes with skin 4. Dried Apricots 6. Plain Yogurt 5. Pumpkin 7. Plain Yogurt 8. Avocadoes9. Mushrooms10. Bananas

Hyperkalemia EKG changes

Hyperkalemia treatment 3 steps involved: Degree? Symptoms? 1.Decrease K Intake - Look for ingestion of salt substitutes or K charged medications or food. - Avoid drugs than inhibit K excretion 2.Shift K Intracellularly (Mod to Severe/symptoms) - Insuline with D50 - ß agonists - Calcium administration stabilizes electrically active membranes: First choice in arrhythmias 3.Reduce body stores of K - Sodium Polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate) - Potassium wasting diuretics or Urgent hemodyalisis

Rare Syndromes Bartter: Ascending think of Henle Loop NaK2Cl Gittelman: Distal tubule – NaCl, Ca++ Liddle: Colector: Resembling hyperaldosteronism, with low aldosterone and renine levels Gordon: Aldosterone resistance Conn: Aldosterone producing tumor