Hypokalemia

Question 1

hypokalemia is associated with

Answer 1

renal losses and non renal losses

Question 2

renal loss of potassium are with

Answer 2

RTA
renal excretion of non reabsorable anions like bicarbonate, hippurate, ketones

drugs like aminoglycosides
cisplatin

Gitelman and Bartter syndrome

hypomangesemia

Question 3

symptoms of hypokalemia are:

Answer 3

weakness
paralysis
decreased GI motility or ileus with nausea
cardiac arrhythmias

Question 4

we check urinary potassium because

Answer 4

it tells us if there’s renal potassium wasting.

urine potassium loss >20 mEq/24h

spot urine potassium >20 mEq

spot urine potassium-cr ratio >13 mEq suggests excessive urinary losses

urine potassium loss <20 mEq/24h suggests cellular shift, decreased intake or extrarenal losses of K