title: Serum potassium responses to nebulized salbutamol administered during an acute asthmatic attack.
abstract: A prospective study of 20 patients presenting to an accident and emergency department with an exacerbation of pre-existing reversible airways disease was undertaken in order to determine whether such patients incurred any changes in their serum potassium following administration of 5 mg of nebulized salbutamol. Electrolytes were estimated before and 30 min after administration of nebulized salbutamol. No other drug was administered during this period. Results indicate that nebulized salbutamol can cause a significant hypokalaemic response in such situations. Eight out of the 20 patients studied demonstrated falls in serum potassium of more than 0.3 mmol/l. Most of the falls in serum potassium occurred in patients with low pre-treatment PCO2 values; a group of patients with less severe respiratory distress. This preliminary study indicates that a further study aimed at elucidating the clinical significance of nebulized salbutamol-induced hypokalaemia is required.
authors.affiliation: Accident and Emergency Department, Leicester Royal Infirmary, England.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: DaCruz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holburn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D000420:Albuterol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000420:Albuterol; D011188:Potassium