title: Potassium toxicity at low serum potassium levels with refeeding syndrome.
abstract: Refeeding syndrome is a life-threatening condition occurring in severely malnourished patients after initiating feeding. Severe hypophosphatemia with reduced adenosine triphosphate production has been implicated, but little data are available regarding electrolyte abnormalities. In this case, we report electrocardiographic changes consistent with hyperkalemia during potassium replacement after a serum level increase from 1.9 to 2.9 mEq/L. This was reversed by lowering serum potassium back to 2.0 mEq/L. In conclusion, the patient with prolonged malnutrition became adapted to low potassium levels and developed potassium toxicity with replacement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
authors.forename: Praveen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vemula
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
authors.forename: Oliver G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Abela
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan.
authors.forename: Keerthy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narisetty
authors.affiliation: Transthoracic Cardiovascular Institute/Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, Michigan.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rhine
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan. Electronic address: george.abela@ht.msu.edu.
authors.forename: George S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Abela
mesh_terms: D004562:Electrocardiography; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D055677:Refeeding Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium