title: Pseudohyperkalemia: Look before you treat.
abstract: Pseudohyperkalemia is defined as a reported rise in serum potassium concentration along with a normal effective plasma potassium concentration. We present a case report of a 57-year-old gentleman with a history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, who presented with an elevation in serum potassium along with a normal plasma potassium concentration. Through an exploration of the literature, we demonstrate that pseudohyperkalemia is an important phenomenon to watch for as it may sometimes lead to unnecessary and potentially dangerous treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Ochsner Hospital System, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Ana Rivera
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: De Rosales
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Ochsner Hospital System, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Duminda S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Siripala
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Ochsner Hospital System, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Shirisha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bodana
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Ochsner Hospital System, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Ochsner Hospital System, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Damodar R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kumbala
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013048:Specimen Handling; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011188:Potassium