Pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia is a potentially life-threatening condition in which serum potassium exceeds 5.5 mmol/l. It can be caused by reduced renal excretion, excessive intake or leakage of potassium from the intracellular space. In addition to acute and chronic renal failure, hypoaldosteronism, and massive tis...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, West) West), 2011-03, Vol.26 (3), p.377-384
Main Authors: Lehnhardt, Anja, Kemper, Markus J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomarkers - blood
Care and treatment
Chronic kidney failure
Educational Review
Health aspects
Homeostasis
Humans
Hyperkalemia
Hyperkalemia - blood
Hyperkalemia - diagnosis
Hyperkalemia - etiology
Hyperkalemia - therapy
Kidney - drug effects
Kidney - metabolism
Kinases
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Nephrology
Pathogenesis
Pediatrics
Physiological aspects
Physiology
Potassium
Potassium - blood
Predictive Value of Tests
Risk Factors
Treatment Outcome
Up-Regulation
Urology
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Summary:Hyperkalemia is a potentially life-threatening condition in which serum potassium exceeds 5.5 mmol/l. It can be caused by reduced renal excretion, excessive intake or leakage of potassium from the intracellular space. In addition to acute and chronic renal failure, hypoaldosteronism, and massive tissue breakdown as in rhabdomyolysis, are typical conditions leading to hyperkalemia. Symptoms are non-specific and predominantly related to muscular or cardiac dysfunction. Treatment has to be initiated immediately using different therapeutic strategies to increase potassium shift into the intracellular space or to increase elimination, together with reduction of intake. Knowledge of the physiological mechanisms of potassium handling is essential in understanding the causes of hyperkalemia as well as its treatment. This article reviews the pathomechanisms leading to hyperkalemic states, its symptoms, and different treatment options.
ISSN:0931-041X
1432-198X
DOI:10.1007/s00467-010-1699-3