Mineralocorticoid therapy lowers serum potassium in patients with end-stage renal disease.
Hyperkalemia is a commonly encountered problem in dialysis patients with end-stage renal disease. In this study we evaluated the effect of mineralocorticoid therapy (MCT; fludrocortisone 0.1-0.3 mg per os daily) on serum potassium of hyperkalemic end-stage renal disease patients. Consecutive monthly clinical and biochemical profiles 3-6 months before and after MCT were compared. Twenty-one patients with a mean age (+/- SE) of 54 +/- 4 years (11 male and 10 female) were studied. Two patients were dropped from this study because they required a change in prescription of dialysis after starting MCT. Mean serum potassium levels significantly fell (p < 0.001) during the post-MCT period (4.9 +/- 0.1 mEq/l) compared with potassium levels during the pre-MCT (5.6 +/- 0.1 mEq/l) period. All patients except 1 showed a reduction in serum potassium levels after MCT. Pre- and post-MCT values were not different for body weight, mean blood pressure, blood urea nitrogen, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, sodium, chloride, bicarbonate, creatinine and albumin. Since the majority of the patients were anuric (n = 15), a decrease in serum potassium values in the post-MCT period was not due to loss of potassium in the urine. MCT appears to decrease serum potassium values in patients with end-stage renal disease by extrarenal mechanisms. We conclude that MCT can be used safely to lower serum potassium in patients with end-stage renal disease.
Singhal
P C
PC
Department of Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, N.Y. 11042.
Desroches
L
L
Mattana
J
J
Abramovici
M
M
Wagner
J D
JD
Maesaka
J K
JK
D005260:Female; D005438:Fludrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D006435:Renal Dialysis
D011188:Potassium; D005438:Fludrocortisone