Hyperkalemia causes
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S. [2] Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S. [3]
Overview
Hyperkalemia (AE) or Hyperkalaemia (BE) is an elevated blood level (above 5.0 mmol/L) of the electrolyte potassium. The prefix hyper- means high (contrast with hypo-, meaning low). The middle kal refers to kalium, which is Latin for potassium. The end portion of the word, -emia, means "in the blood". Extreme degrees of hyperkalemia are considered a medical emergency due to the risk of potentially fatal arrhythmias.
Causes
Common Causes
- ACE inhibitors
- Acidosis
- Addisonian crisis
- Beta blockers
- Blood transfusion and complications
- Cirrhosis
- Diabetic nephropathy
- Increased ingestion of high potassium foods
- Malnutrition
- Renal tubular acidosis
- Renal failure
Causes by Organ System
Causes in Alphabetical Order
References
- ↑ Sevastos N et al. (2006) Pseudohyperkalemia in serum: the phenomenon and its clinical magnitude. J Lab Clin Med, 147(3):139-44; PMID 16503244.
- ↑ Don BR et al. (1990) Pseudohyperkalemia caused by fist clenching during phlebotomy. N Engl J Med, 322(18):1290-2; PMID 2325722.
- ↑ Iolascon A et al. (1999) Familial pseudohyperkalemia maps to the same locus as dehydrated hereditary stomatocytosis. Blood, 93(9):3120-3; PMID 10216110.