title: Effect of long-term diuretic treatment on body-potassium in heart-disease.
abstract: Plasma and total body potassium have been measured in 151 patients with chronic heart-disease, 83 of whom were taking diuretics and potassium supplements. After allowance for age and body-size, the deficit in total body-potassium was only 3-5% (100-150 mmol) in the diuretic group. 13 of the 83 patients taking diuretic had hypokalaemia (less than 3-5 mmol/1) but the potassium deficit was no greater than in the patients with normal plasma-potassium. There was no relation between the dose of potassium supplements and either the plasma-potassium or the total body-potasium. It is suggested that potassium depletion is not a major problem in patients with heart-failure treated with diuretics. The dose of potassium supplements should therefore be determined entirely by the plasma-potassium.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003518:Cyclopenthiazide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005665:Furosemide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics; D005665:Furosemide; D011188:Potassium; D003518:Cyclopenthiazide