Severe post-dialysis hypokalaemia leading to quadriparesis.
A 36-year-old male developed acute renal failure and severe metabolic acidosis following acute severe gastroenteritis. Two hours following haemodialysis he developed generalized muscle weakness, which progressed to quadriplegia over the next 4 hours. Electrocardiography (ECG) revealed classic signs of hypokalaemia. Serum potassium (K+) levels were 0.98 mmol/L. He was immediately started on intravenous (i/v) and oral potassium supplementation. He gradually improved and his ECG changes also reverted as potassium levels normalized. Postdialysis hypokalaemia can be a serious complication in patients who are already in total body potassium deficit. Dialysis fluid potassium levels should be kept higher in such patients.
Saif
Imran
I
Department of Nephrology, Military Hospital Rawalpindi.
Halim
Abdul
A
Altaf
Ashfaq
A
Saif
Mohsin
M
Siddiqui
Umair
U
Rahman
Muhammad Khalid
MK
Azam
Nadeem
N
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D011188:Potassium