Chapter 5 - Disorders of Potassium Flashcards
What is the major extracellular cation?
Na+
What is the major intracellular cation?
K+
What is the concentration of K+ in the intracellular fluid?
140mEq/L (variation in RBCs)
Muscle: 400 mEq/L
What is the concentration of Na+ in the intracellular fluid?
10mEq/L
As much as 95% or more of total body K is located within the cells. What area contains the most?
Muscle
What maintains the relationship between the ECF and ICF potassium concentrations?
Na/K ATPase
Na/K ATPase pumps ____ out of cells and ____ into cells.
Na, K
Na/K ATPase pumps in what ratio?
3Na/ 2K
A net _____ charge is within the cell and a net _______ charge is outside the cell.
Negative/ positive
What is the Nernst equation?
Resting cell membrane potential
Em = -61Log10 [Ki]/[Ko]
Hypokalemia ___________ the resting membrane potential
Increases/ makes more negative/ makes it less excitable
Membrane excitability is affected by potassium, but can also be affected by what two other things?
Calcium and acid-base balances
Ionized hypocalcemia _________ membrane excitability.
Increases (allows self perpetuating Na permeability to be reached with lesser degree of polarization)
Membrane excitability is ______ with alkalemia and ________ by acidemia.
Increased, decreased
T/F: Transport of K in the small intestine is active, while transport of K in the colon is passive.
False (passive in the small intestine and active in the colon)
Where is K removed from the body from?
Kidneys and GI tract
In dogs, what percent of K intake is eliminated via the kidneys?
90-98%
What 2 hormones promote cellular uptake of K in the liver and muscle by increasing the activity of Na/K ATPase?
Insulin and epinephrine
What type of acidosis is more likely to cause any clinically relevant change in serum K concentration during acute acid-base disturbances?
Mineral acidosis
T/F: Metabolic acidosis of at least 2-3 days duration is associated with increased urinary K excretion and mild hypoK.
True
What can help differentiate between renal and non-renal sources of potassium loss?
Fractional excretion of potassium
What are the common causes of hypokalemia / metabolic alkalosis, hypokalemia / metabolic acidosis, respectively?
Hypokalemia / metabolic alkalosis: vomiting of stomach contents, diuretic administration
Hypokalemia / metabolic acidosis: diarrhea caused by small intestinal disease, chronic renal failure, distal renal tubular acidosis
Causes of hypokalemia: Translocation (ECF to ICF)?
alkalemia insulin/glucose containing fluid catecholamine albuterol overdosage hypothermia
Effects on muscle
- less than 3.0 mEq/L
- less than 2.5 mEq/L
- less than 2.0 mEq/L
- muscle weakness
- increased CK
- frank rhabdomyolysis
True/False: chronic hypokalemia leads to metabolic acidosis in both dogs and cats
True
True/False: hypokalemia renders the myocardium refractory to the effects of class 1 antiarrhythmic agents (lidocaine, quinidine, procainamide). Therefore, serum potassium concentration should be measured and hypokalemia should be corrected in dogs with ventricular arrhythmia unresponsive to antiarrhythmic therapy
True Lidocaine: class 1b Quinidine: class 1a Procainamide: class 1a
What are the main features of hypokalemic nephropathy?
- Renal vasoconstriction- decrease RBF and GFR
2. PU/PD from impaired responsiveness of the kidneys to ADH
Explain 3 categories of hypokalemia
- decreased intake
- translocation of K from ECF to ICF
- excessive loss of potassium by either the GI or urinary route