9/14- Dyskalemias Flashcards
What can cause hyperkalemia?
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Hemolysis
Pseudo-hypokalemia (no lysis)?
AML
- Abnormal WBC
- Numerous WBC
- Prolonged standing
- Consumption of extracellular K
[rapid separation of plasma or store at 4’C]
Pseudo-hyperkalemia (no lysis)
Pseudo-hyperkalemia (no lysis)
- Leukocytosis [> 70K/mm]
- Thrombocytosis [>7.5e5/mm3)
- Test tube hemolysis
- Ischemic blood draw
[serum vs. plasma K: send sample in heparinized tube]
What may cause hypokalemia?
- Sympathomimetics: Beta stimulants [asthma, premature labor], pain
- Alkalosis / Alkalemia
- Periodic paralysis
- Excess Insulin
- Rapid cell production: Lymphomas, leukemias, GM-CSF, B12 therapy, anabolic states
What may cause hyperkalemia?
Sympathetic blockers
- Betablockers
- Scoline
Inorganic Acidosis / Acidemia
Osmolality high
Insulinopenia
Rapid cell destruction
- Rhabdomyolysis
- In vitro hemolysis etc
- Tissue necrosis
Kidney determinants of K handling
- Distal Na delivery (Na/K exchange)
- RAAAS
- ENaC (epithelial Na channel)
What increases/decreases ENaC activity?
What are the effects of this?
Increased epithelial Na channel:
- Aldosterone
- Liddle’s syndrome
Decreased epithelial Na channel:
(K sparing diuretics- block this channel to cause hyperkalemia)
- Amiloride
- Triamterene
- Trimethoprim
ENaC stimulation -> Na retention (and HTN)
ENaC inhibition -> hyperkalemia
What increases function of Na-K-ATPase?
Aldosterone
Learn this ion transport activity of principal cell
- ENaC stmulation -> Na retention (and HTN)
- ENaC inhibition -> hyperkalemia
What may cause an 11B hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase block?
What does this enzyme do?
This enzyme is responsible for converting cortisol into cortisone (prevents formation of final glucocorticoid?)
- Apparent mineralocorticoid excess
- Licorice (glycyrrhetinic acid)
How will pts with an 11B hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase block present?
Severe hypokalemia
- Severe volume overload (S3 gallop…)
When are renin levels increased? decreased?
Increased:
- Malignant HTN
- Renovascular HTN
- Renin producing tumor
- Volume depletion
Decreased:
- Beta blockers
When are ang II levels/receptor decreased/inhibited?
- ACE inhibitors
- A-II receptor blockers (ARCBs)
When are aldosterone levels increased? decreased?
Increased:
- Adrenal adenoma
- Adrenal hyperplasia
Decreased:
- Adrenal insufficiency
- Heparin
- NSAIDs
When are aldo receptor levels increased? decreased?
Increased:
- Non aldosterone hormones: glucocorticoids, cortisol, ectopic ACTH
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Decreased:
- Sprinolocatone
- Eplerenone
When are ENaC levels increased? decreased?
Increased:
- Aldosterone
- Liddle’s syndrome
Decreased:
- Amiloride
- Triamterene
- Trimethoprim
- Pentamidine
What may cause hypokalemia?
Will have hypokalemia and HTN
- Increased renin
((- Increased angi II/receptor: nothing does this directly))
- Increased aldosterone
- Increased aldosterone receptor
- Increased ENaC
What may cause hyperkalemia?
- Decreased renin
- Dereased angi II/receptor
- Decreased aldosterone
- Decreased aldosterone receptor
- Decreased ENaC
What is seen clinically in patients with hypokalemia?
Asymptomatic lab abnormality in 20% of inpts
Muscle weakness
- Cardiac: ventricular arrhythmias
- Skeletal: weakness, cramping, myalgias, paralysis
Paralysis
Sudden death
What is the first question to consider in hypokalemic state?
Is the urine K greater or less than 20 mEq/day
(Is kidney trying to dump or conserve?)
If urine K is under 20 mEq/day, what does that indicate for hypokalemia?
Non-renal cause (kidney is not dumping K!)
Lower GI losses
- Diarrhea
- Fistula
Upper GI (NG suction/vomiting): variable urine K
- Lower urine K: alkalosis; intracellular shift
- Normal or high urine K:
—- bicarbonaturia increases K loss
—- loss of Na causes 2ndary stimulation of aldosterone
If urine K is > 20 mEq/day, what do you need to consider?
See if BP is high
- If hypokalemic and hypertensive, need to look at the RAAAS system
What do different levels of renin and aldosterone indicate for pt who is hypokalemic and hypertensive?
High renin and high aldosterone:
- RAS
- Magignant HTN
- Renin secreting tumor
Low renin but high aldosterone
- Conn’s/adrenal adenoma
- Bilateral cortical hyperplasia
- GRA
Normal or low renin and angiotensin:
- Cushing’s
- Apparent mineralocorticoid excess
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- Liddle’s
- Mineralocorticoid receptor mutation
If pt is hypokalemic and blood pressure is normal/low, what must be considered?
See if serum HCO3 is low or high