title: Ondansetron-associated hypokalemia in a 2-year-old with pre-B-cell ALL.
abstract: Ondansetron is a commonly used medication in the treatment of nausea and vomiting arising from many etiologies, including chemotherapy. Although it is a highly safe drug, ondansetron use has been associated, rarely, with hypokalemia. However, it is unknown whether hypokalemia is due to the medication itself or to an underlying potassium disturbance caused by prior metabolic derangements, including vomiting. We relate a patient who presents with hypokalemia of unknown etiology, with evidence suggesting a possible relationship to ondansetron. We also present a proposed mechanism for this phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: Simon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Maury
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinsk
mesh_terms: D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D015452:Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D003561:Cytarabine; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D017294:Ondansetron; D014750:Vincristine; C042705:pegaspargase; D003907:Dexamethasone; D015122:Mercaptopurine; D001215:Asparaginase; D008727:Methotrexate