Treatment of hyperkalaemia in renal failure with salbutamol inhalation.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether beta-2-adrenergic stimulation with inhaled salbutamol is therapeutically useful in hyperkalaemia. Ten patients with renal failure and hyperkalaemia (serum potassium concentration greater than 6 mmol l-1) were given 15 mg salbutamol via a nebulizer over a 30-min period. Serum potassium was measured 30, 60, 180 and 360 min thereafter. All patients had end-stage renal failure on chronic hospital haemodialysis. Serum potassium levels decreased significantly from a pretreatment value of 6.5 +/- 0.6 mmol l-1 to 5.6 +/- 0.6 mmol-1 after 30 min, and this level was maintained for 3 h. Six hours after treatment, the serum potassium concentration was 6 +/- 0.7 mmol l-1. There was a modest increase in heart rate and blood glucose level, but otherwise salbutamol was well tolerated and no serious side-effects occurred. It is concluded that the administration of salbutamol by inhalation is a simple, safe and reasonably effective method for treatment of hyperkalaemia in renal failure.
Montoliu
J
J
Nephrology Service, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Lleida, Spain.
Almirall
J
J
Ponz
E
E
Campistol
J M
JM
Revert
L
L
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000139:chemically induced
D000420:Albuterol