title: Refractory hyperkalemia related to heparin abuse.
abstract: Hyperkalemia is a potentially life-threatening condition, which may occur in many clinical settings. Heparin-induced hyperkalemia is less well-recognized than other side effects of heparin therapy. Even lesser known is heparin abuse amongst drug addicts. We report a case of fatal hyperkalemia related to long-term heparin abuse, which was refractory to anti-hyperkalemia therapy including hemodialysis. The objective is to alert the clinicians to possible abuse of heparin in drug addicts, which can be a cause for refractory hyperkalemia. We also briefly review the available literature on heparin-induced hyperkalemia.
authors: Department of Critical Care, SPS Apollo Hospitals, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
authors: Kanwalpreet
authors: K
authors: Sodhi
authors: Department of Neurosciences, SPS Apollo Hospitals, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
authors: Sidhartha
authors: S
authors: Garg
authors: Department of Nephrology, SPS Apollo Hospitals, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
authors: Bakhshish
authors: B
authors: Singh
authors: Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, SPS Apollo Hospitals, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
authors: Anupam
authors: A
authors: Shrivastava
authors: Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, SPS Apollo Hospitals, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
authors: Manender Kumar
authors: MK
authors: Singla
keywords: Hemodialysis; heparin abuse; hyperkalemia