Potassium and pH Flashcards
What are levels of potassium like intracellularly?
High
What is potassium a key determinant of?
Resting membrane potential
What cells are particularly affected by abnormalities in K+?
Excitable cells in particular cardiac/muscle function because of its role in membrane potential
What does the ENaC/ROMK channel do?
Swaps Na+ and K+- Na+ in and K+ out (regulates K+ elimination
What activates ENaC/ROMK channels?
Aldosterone and it inserts them into the membrane
What is K+ excretion dependent on?
Aldosterone and plasma K+ conc
Higher K+ conc, higher K+ secretion
Increase in aldosterone, increase in K+ secretion
What is the Na+/K+ pump responsible for?
Maintaining difference in electrolyte conc between ICF and ECF
What influences Na+/K+ pump activity?
Beta adrenergic stimuli and thyroxine- disorders of these affect plasma K+ conc (adrenaline lowers plasma K+)
What happens after a meal with K+?
Kidneys will increase K+ excretion before plasma K+ rises
Where is K+ low?
ECF
What is the main cause of low K+?
Reduced intake (unlikely)
Renal losses
Intracellular shift
Give examples of renal losses of K+?
Mineralocorticoid excess (Conn’s)
Renal tubular disorder
Diuretics
Give examples of intracellular shift that cause low K+?
Glucose load- after glucose is ingested and enters the blood, it stimulates a release of insulin which drives K+ into cells
Adrenaline
Alkalosis
What is the most common cause of K+ loss?
Loss of K+ rich fluid particularly from GI tract- diarrhoea and vomiting
What causes of high plasma K+ are there?
Increased intake
Renal retention
Intracellular shift
Why is increased intake an unlikely cause?
We have the capacity to eliminate a large amount of K+ per day
What causes of renal retention are there?
Mineralocorticoid deficiency (Addisons)
ACE inhibitors
Renal failure
Potassium sparing diuretics (spironolactone)
What examples of intracellular shift cause increased plasma K+?
Insulin deficiency
Acidosis- H+ compete wih K+
Exercise
Cell lysis
Give a summary of factors that increase plasma K+
Renal failure
Mineralocorticoid deficiency
Cell lysis
ACE inhibitors
Give a summary of factors that decrease plasma K+
GI fluid losses
Diuretics
Mineralocorticoid excess
What is the main issue with high k+?
Abnormal ECG
What ECG abnormalities are there with hyperkalaemia?
Tented T waves
Loss of P waves
Broad QRS
Bradycardia
How do you treat hyperkalaemia?
Calcium chloride (IV)- no effect on plasma potassium but reduces effect of potassium on cardiac excitability and limits ECG changes. Fixes bradycardia 50% glucose- taken up by cells, shift of potassium from ECF to ICF. It will lower the plasma K+ within half an hour and will last for 4-6 hours- K+ will eventually leak back out again but it does buy time Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)- works if patient is not fluid overloaded, affects movement of potassium between ECF and ICF
What is the important rule about Acid Base balance?
Whenever you have water, there will be a little dissociation into H+ and OH-
[H+] x [OH-] = 10^-14
What is the pH?
Negative log of [H+]
Why is pH important?
It alters the charge on amino acids which leads to altering the structure of proteins and hence their function
What are the consequences of change in pH?
Impaired ventricular function Arrythmias Vasodilation, catecholamine release Impaired oxygen delivery Bronchoconstriction Reduced hepatic/renal blood flow Impaired consciousness Respiratory muscle fatigue Protein catabolism Insulin resistance
What does it mean if you have a base excess of 0?
There is no excess of base or acid
What will happen if you have a base excess?
The pH will increase