Clinical Approach to Electrolyte Disorders Flashcards
Most potassium is where?
Muscle and IC
What increases and decreases serum K
HYpo - insulin, alpha antagonists and beta agonists alkalosis
Hyper - acidosis, hyperglycemia, beta 2 antagonist and alpha agonists, increase in osmolarity and exercise
Regulation of collecting duct K secretion
Distal tubule flow (dependent on upsteam Na reabsorption)…more Na reabsorption means more secretion bc more sodium coming into the cells
MC receptor (alosterone (serum K and RAAS) and GCs)
Hypokalemia levels
Under 3.5
Moderate under 3
Severe under 2.5
Causes of hypokalemia
First consider pseudo (K falls in test tube)
True - inadequate intake, shifts into cells, GI losses, renal losses)
Pseudohypokalemia
Cell K uptake in the test tube
Due to very high number of metabolically active cels (AML or CML)
Temp increases Na-KATPase and shifts K into cells
Often also associated with pseduohypoglycemia
Prevent by rapidly separating plasma and cells or store blood at 4C
Decreased oral postassium intake
Rarely sole
Causes more total body K depletion than hypokalemia
Contributing factor in other primary etiologies of hypokalemia
Urinary K losses can go as low as 10 mmol/day
Could be found in pts with eating disorders
IC shift causing hypokalemia
Alkalosis - small effect
INsulin
Increase B2-adrenergic (stress induced reelease, theophulline, albuterol)
Thyroid hormone (thyrotoxic periodic paralysis)
Anabolism (tx of pernicious anemia…rapidly expanding cell mass like leukemia or lymphoma)
Hypokalemia periodic paralyssis
Hypothermia
Renal loss
Primary hyperaldosteronism - adrenla hyperplasia or adenoma
Secondary hyperaldosteronism - diruetics, vomiting, salt wasting neprhopathies
Potassium wasting neprhopathies - hypermagnesemia, drug toxicity, polyuria, RTA
Mineralocorticooid excess - Cushing syndrome, licorice
Diuretic induced
INceased tubular flow
Increased sodium delivery so reabsorption through the ENaC
Enhanced tubule negative charge in tubule
Induce volume depletion and aldosterone secretion
All of this leads to increased K secretion
Hypokalmeia sx and signs
Due to hyperpolarization
PVCs, abnormal EKG (prolonged QT, U-wave), digitalis toxicity
Fatigue, weakness, paralysis and rhabdo
Rudced motility (constipation)
POlyuria and polydipsia due to renal concentring defect (mild nrphogenic DI)
Tx of hypokalemia
Oral KCl for mild to moderate
IV KCl for severe or sx…in slaine, NOT glucose to prevent insulin induced IC shift of insulin
Replace Mg if needed
Causes of hyperkalemia
Psuedo
True - increased intake
IC to EC shift
Decreased renal excretion
Over 5.4
Pseudohyperkalemia
Hemolysis Warm temp Fragility Severe leukocytosis or thrombocytosis Fist clenching/tourniquet
Increased intake
Unusual cause of hyperkalemia if there is no renal failure
Enteral supplements, salt subs, blood transfusions, penicillin, dialysate
Take a good hx…highest content (dried figs, molasses, seaweed)
Very high - nuts, beans
High content - tomatoes, potetatoes, bananas, oranges
People who are on sodium restriciton often have risk factors for hyperkalemia
Hyperkalemia EC shift
Hyperosmolarity - DKA and hyperglycemia
Drugs - beta blockers, digoxin, succinylcholine
Acidemia
^all if membrane intact
If membane not intact - rhabdomyolysis, tumor lysis syndrome, hemolysis
Decreased renal excretion - hyperkalemia
Primary decrease in tubular flow and distal Na delivery
Primary decrease in MC activity
Abnormal cortical collecting duct
Loss of GFR will decrease sodium delivery (renal failure, ECF depletion and renal vasoconstrction)
Anything that blocks the ENaC channel (traimterene, amiloride, trimethoprim)
Hypoaldosteronsim (drugs, diabetes, type 4 RTA, adrenal insufficient, congential)
Consequences of hyperkalemia
Muscle weakness and paralysis
ECG changes and arrhythmias
Increase EC potassium reduces MC excitability
Increased potassium leads to suppression of trhe SA node and conduction by the AV node
Tx of hyperkalemia
Goal is to prevent arrhythmia
Based on the way the way that hyperkalemia occurred
Calcium stabilizes the cardiac membranes
Shift potassium into cells with insulin, bicarb, or beta2 agonist
Increase excretion with cation exchange resin/polymer or slaine, diuretics, dialysis
Forms of calcium and phosphate
Calcium - 45% is freely ionized…if albumin is low, more is ionized because amount bound to protein is lower….calcium corrected=measured+(.8(4-albumin))
Most of phosphate is in the bones…remainder is IC…small fraction in serum is phospholipids and inorganic phosphate…consides of HPO4 and H2PO4