title: Myocardial damage due to hypokalaemia and hypophosphataemia.
abstract: A case of severe hypokalaemia with stupor, skeletal muscle and heart muscle damage is reported. An initial infusion of glucose-insulin and potassium (GIK) produced a temporary clinical improvement with reduction of creatine kinase (CKMB) and elevation of serum K+. On the 4th day of treatment, neuromuscular and cardiovascular deterioration occurred accompanied by a further rise of CKMB. This deterioration was coincident with a serum phosphate of 0.26 mmol/l. The impaired left ventricular (LV) function was measured using echocardiography and detecting the ejection fraction (EF). GIK was stopped and a potassium phosphate infusion commenced. As the phosphate and potassium deficiencies were corrected, the neuromuscular and cardiac abnormalities resolved, CKMB fell to normal and LVEF rose from 40% to 72%. We suggest that additional cardiac damage due to hypophosphataemia may have occurred in this patient, who already had cardiac impairment as a result of profound hypokalaemia. Possible mechanisms are discussed.
mesh_terms: D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates