title: [Prevalence of hypokalemia in patients with methylprednisolone pulse therapy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of hypokalemia in patients with methylprednisolone pulse therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a descriptive, cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 110 outpatients who received pulse doses of 1 g of intravenous methylprednisolone for three consecutive days. Demographic variables, serum electrolytes and an electrocardiogram were documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study group consisted of 31 men (28.2%) and 79 women (71.8%). Average age was 40 +/- 13.6 years. Mild hypokalemia was present in 19 patients (17.27% [95% CI 9.75-24.79]); moderate potassium levels were found in just one patient 0.9% [IC 95 0.023-4.96]); no cases of severe hypokalemia occurred. Total prevalence was 18.18% (95% CI 10.5-25.8). There were no significant electrocardiographic changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mild and moderate hypokalemia was 18.18% without clinical or electrocardiographic consequences. Since there were no cases of severe hypokalemia, close monitoring of potassium levels should be restricted to those patients with other risk factors.
authors.affiliation: División de Medicina Interna, Hospital de Especialidades No. 25, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social de Monterrey. hectoreloytamez@aol.com
authors.forename: Héctor Eloy
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Tamez-Pérez
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cisneros-Pérez
authors.forename: Javier Armando
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cedillo-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diaz-De-León-González
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torres-Valenzuela
authors.forename: Alejandra Lorena
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Tamez-Peña
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forsbach-Sánchez
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Hermosillo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D020551:Pulse Therapy, Drug
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008775:Methylprednisolone