title: Low Usefulness of Potassium Monitoring Among Healthy Young Women Taking Spironolactone for Acne.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Spironolactone has been shown to be an effective treatment option for hormonally mediated acne but can cause hyperkalemia. The prevalence of hyperkalemia among healthy young women taking spironolactone for acne is unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To measure the rate of hyperkalemia in healthy young women taking spironolactone for acne or for an endocrine disorder with associated acne.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of healthy young women taking spironolactone for acne. Data from December 1, 2000, through March 31, 2014, were obtained from a clinical data repository. Outpatient data were collected from 2 tertiary care centers in the United States. We analyzed rates of hyperkalemia in 974 healthy young women taking spironolactone for acne. We also analyzed 1165 healthy young women taking and not taking spironolactone to obtain a profile for the baseline rate of hyperkalemia in this population. Exclusion criteria were cardiovascular disease, renal failure, and the use of medications that affect the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rate of hyperkalemia in healthy young women taking spironolactone for acne was calculated. Secondary measures included spironolactone prescriber profiles and potassium monitoring practices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 13 abnormal serum potassium measurements in 1802 measurements obtained among young women receiving spironolactone therapy, yielding a hyperkalemia rate of 0.72%, equivalent to the 0.76% baseline rate of hyperkalemia in this population. Repeat testing in 6 of 13 patients demonstrated normal values, suggesting that these measurements may have been erroneous. In the remaining 7 patients, no action was taken.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of hyperkalemia in healthy young women taking spironolactone for acne is equivalent to the baseline rate of hyperkalemia in this population. Routine potassium monitoring is unnecessary for healthy women taking spironolactone for acne.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Molly
authors: M
authors: Plovanich
authors: Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Qing Yu
authors: QY
authors: Weng
authors: Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Arash
authors: A
authors: Mostaghimi
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D013148:Spironolactone; D011188:Potassium