title: Potassium and diuretic-induced ventricular arrhythmias in ambulatory hypertensive patients.
abstract: We studied 17 hypertensive men to determine the relationship of diuretic-induced hypokalemia to ventricular ectopic activity ( VEA ). Blood values and 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring were done at baseline, after diuretic and after serum potassium normalization. Two subgroups of patients were identified: group A patients were older (63.0 vs. 53.8 years) and had clinical evidence of organic heart disease compared to group B. Group A had increased frequency and complexity of VEA with diuretic which reverted to baseline after potassium normalization. Group B had no changes. Serum and intra-red blood cell potassium decrements were equal in both groups. We conclude that clinical in addition to laboratory observation should be used to identify those hypertensive patients most susceptible to diuretic-induced VEA and their serum potassium level should be normalized in order to minimize this complication.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D002752:Chlorthalidone / Q000009:adverse effects; D004232:Diuretics; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D004232:Diuretics; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors; D002752:Chlorthalidone; D011188:Potassium