title: Hyperkalemia and potential pitfalls of sodium polystyrene sulfonate.
abstract: Sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS), FDA-approved more than 60 years ago for treating hyperkalemia, is an ion exchange resin that works by exchanging sodium for potassium in the colon. Though widely used in clinical practice, SPS use is not supported by well-designed clinical trials. In 2009, the FDA issued a warning that SPS was associated with colonic necrosis and other serious gastrointestinal adverse reactions. This article reviews the pros and cons of SPS therapy.
authors.affiliation: Timothy Nguyen is an associate professor of pharmacy practice at Long Island University's Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Brooklyn, N.Y., and an adjunct clinical pharmacology professor in Long Island University's PA program and at St. Peter's University in New Jersey. Daniella Ondrik, Oksana Zhufyak, Watson To, and Sining He were doctor of pharmacy students at Long Island University at the time this article was written. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Daniella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ondrik
authors.forename: Oksana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zhufyak
authors.forename: Watson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: To
authors.forename: Sining
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D002411:Cation Exchange Resins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009336:Necrosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D002411:Cation Exchange Resins; D011137:Polystyrenes; C003321:polystyrene sulfonic acid