- Normal potassium: 3.5 – 5 mEq\L
- Alkalosis + insulin + epinephrine + B-agonists + ↑ aldosterone -> hypokalemia
- Acidosis + B-blockers + digoxin + cell lysis + ↓ aldosterone -> hyperkalemia
- Hypokalemia predisposes pt to digoxin toxicity
- Digoxin toxicity causes hyperkalemia
Presentation:
Heart and muscles: weakness, paralysis, arrhythmias. Nephrogenic DI
| Bartter syndrome: loop of Henle dysfunction (furosemide-like effect)
Gitelman’s syndrome: distal convoluted tubule dysfunction (thiazide-like effect) |
Download the PDF version: here
References:
- Step up to medicine
- Dr Alqahtani’s lecture
