Survival of extreme hyperkalemia.
Severe hyperkalemia has been reported to lead to typical ECG changes, often reflecting cardiac abnormalities which finally lead to death in arrhythmias. The present report describes a 77-year-old male, who developed extreme hyperkalemia because of treatment with a potassium saving diuretic in combination with potassium supplementation and subsequent development of urinary retention. In spite of a maximal potassium value of 10.1 mmol/l only non-specific ECG-changes were found. The patient survived after an uneventful dialysis. Thus, extreme hyperkalemia may occur without typical ECG changes and serum potassium values exceeding 10 mmol/l may be survived.
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000150:complications; D000368:Aged; D004232:Diuretics / Q000009:adverse effects; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000009:adverse effects
D004232:Diuretics; D011188:Potassium