Abstract
The therapeutic course of patients with severe heart failure can be complicated by disturbances in potassium homeostasis. Although hypokalemia in more prevalent, hyperkalemia may occur. Among 730 consecutive patients admitted to the hospital because of heart failure, nine episodes of acute, life-threatening hyperkalemia (mean serum potassium level: 7.2 ± 0.5 mEq/L) were diagnosed in six patients (0.8%) with severe chronic heart failure during maintenance oral potassium therapy and exacerbation of heart failure and/or after additional oral doses had been administered for correction of hypokalemia. Of nine hyperkalemic episodes observed, one was fatal, seven episodes were successfully treated, and one resolved spontaneously. Only one patient was receiving and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. An awareness of this complication and the clinical setting in which it is likely to occur could lead to earlier recognition and successful management.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1083-1091 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | American Heart Journal |
| Volume | 117 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 1989 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Cite this
Life-threatening hyperkalemia in severe heart failure. / Chakko, Simon C.; Frutchey, John; Gheorghiade, Mihai.
In: American Heart Journal, Vol. 117, No. 5, 01.01.1989, p. 1083-1091.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Life-threatening hyperkalemia in severe heart failure
AU - Chakko, Simon C.
AU - Frutchey, John
AU - Gheorghiade, Mihai
PY - 1989/1/1
Y1 - 1989/1/1
N2 - The therapeutic course of patients with severe heart failure can be complicated by disturbances in potassium homeostasis. Although hypokalemia in more prevalent, hyperkalemia may occur. Among 730 consecutive patients admitted to the hospital because of heart failure, nine episodes of acute, life-threatening hyperkalemia (mean serum potassium level: 7.2 ± 0.5 mEq/L) were diagnosed in six patients (0.8%) with severe chronic heart failure during maintenance oral potassium therapy and exacerbation of heart failure and/or after additional oral doses had been administered for correction of hypokalemia. Of nine hyperkalemic episodes observed, one was fatal, seven episodes were successfully treated, and one resolved spontaneously. Only one patient was receiving and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. An awareness of this complication and the clinical setting in which it is likely to occur could lead to earlier recognition and successful management.
AB - The therapeutic course of patients with severe heart failure can be complicated by disturbances in potassium homeostasis. Although hypokalemia in more prevalent, hyperkalemia may occur. Among 730 consecutive patients admitted to the hospital because of heart failure, nine episodes of acute, life-threatening hyperkalemia (mean serum potassium level: 7.2 ± 0.5 mEq/L) were diagnosed in six patients (0.8%) with severe chronic heart failure during maintenance oral potassium therapy and exacerbation of heart failure and/or after additional oral doses had been administered for correction of hypokalemia. Of nine hyperkalemic episodes observed, one was fatal, seven episodes were successfully treated, and one resolved spontaneously. Only one patient was receiving and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. An awareness of this complication and the clinical setting in which it is likely to occur could lead to earlier recognition and successful management.
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U2 - 10.1016/0002-8703(89)90866-1
DO - 10.1016/0002-8703(89)90866-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 2711969
AN - SCOPUS:0024536576
VL - 117
SP - 1083
EP - 1091
JO - American Heart Journal
JF - American Heart Journal
SN - 0002-8703
IS - 5
ER -