Approach to 
Hypokalemia 
Dr Garima Aggarwal 
22.09.2014
APPROACH TO HYPOKALEMIA 
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 
 CLINICAL APPROACH 
TREATMENT
Potassium homeostasis 
. 
 The ratio of intracellular to extracellular 
potassium determines the cellular membrane 
potential. 
 Small changes - profound effects on the function 
of the cardiovascular and neuromuscular systems.
Cellular K+ Content 
 Intracellular K+ affects intra to extracellular K+ 
 With K+ depletion , 
K+ loss from ECF > ICF loss 
causing increased Ki + / Ke+ 
 K+ depletion : hyperpolarization 
 K+ retention : depolarization
Na+ K+ ATPase
Factors modifying transcellular 
K+ distribution 
 Acid base status 
 Pancreatic hormones : insulin , glucagon 
 Catecholamines 
 Aldosterone 
 Plasma Osmolality 
 Exercise 
 Cellular K+ content
Acid Base Status 
Alkalemia promotes K+ uptake by cells 
Acidemia diminishes K+ uptake by cells 
H+ K+ 
K+ H+ 
ACIDOSI 
S 
ALKALOSIS 
An oversimplification in acidosis
Exercise 
 Recurrent contraction increases K+ egress from muscle 
 Modest exercise : high K+ in ECF in local environment 
produces vasodilatation & thereby increased regional blood 
flow 
 Severe exercise : increase plasma K+ modestly 
 Physical training increases Na+K+ATPase activity in skeletal 
muscle which helps skeletal muscle to take up K+ again
RENAL ADAPTATION 
 Kidneys adapt to both acute and chronic 
alterations in potassium intake. 
 obligatory renal losses are 10-15 mEq/d. 
 Maintain potassium homeostasis until the glomerular 
filtration rate drops to less than 15-20 mL/min. 
 In the presence of renal failure, the proportion of 
potassium excreted through the gut increases. 
 However, as renal function worsens, the kidneys may not 
be capable of handling an acute potassium load.
Renal Handling of K+ 
 Glomerulus: freely filtered 
 PCT, Thick As limb LOH : 
reabsorbed 
 DCT, CNT, CCD – secreted
INTERCALATED CELLS
RENAL ADAPTATION 
Excretion is increased by 
 (1) aldosterone, 
 (2) high sodium delivery to the collecting duct (eg, diuretics), 
 (3) high urine flow (eg, osmotic diuresis), 
 (4) high serum potassium level
 Invitro studies 
 Aldosterone stimulates Na+K+ATPase and thereby activating 
Na + influx 
Aldosterone
Hypokalemia 
 Defined as plasma concentration of K+ < 3.5 mEq/L 
 Mild Hypokalemia : 3.0 – 3.5 mEq/L : asymptomatic 
 Moderate Hypokalemia < 3.0 mEq/L : symptomatic 
 Severe Hypokalemia <2.5 mEq/L 
Clinical manifestations of hypokalemia vary greatly between 
individual patients & 
their severity depends on degree of hypokalemia
Hypokalemia 
Decreased intake 
Redistribution 
into cells 
Increased loss 
Renal Extra renal
PSEUDOHYPOKALEMIA 
-spurious 
 "pseudohypokalemia" occurs in acute myelogenous 
leukemia 
 large number of leucocytes in the blood specimen (stored at 
room temperature) 
 sponge-up the extracellular potassium => artefactually low 
serum potassium reading
Decrease K intake 
 Dietary – starvation, clay ingestion 
 IV therapy
Redistribution into cells 
 Alkalosis 
 Insulin Excess 
 Beta-2 agonist 
 Alpha antagonist 
 Hypokalemic 
periodic paralysis 
 Anabolic state-vit. 
B 12, folic 
acid 
•GM CSF 
•Total parenteral nutrition 
•Hypothermia 
•Barium toxicity 
•Pseudohypokalemia
GI LOSS of K+ 
 Secretory diarrhea 
 GIT fistula or small bowel enterostomy 
 malabsorption syndrome 
 excessive, voluminous vomiting 
 laxative abuse
Transtubular potassium gradient 
(TTKG) 
 To account for the potentially confounding effect of urine 
concentration on the interpretation of the urine potassium 
 the serum-to-tubular fluid ratio of potassium at the level of the 
cortical collecting tubule, where potassium is secreted. 
 TTKG = (Urine potassium/urine osmolality : serum potassium 
/serum osmolality) 
 A value less than 3 suggests that the kidney is not wasting 
excessive potassium, while a value greater than 7 suggests a 
significant renal loss..
DISTAL K+ SECRETION (TTKG>4) 
With normal or low blood pressure 
1.With alkalosis – Diuretic therapy, Bartters and gitelmans 
syndrome 
2. With acidosis – RTA type 1& 2, carbonic anhydrase inhibitor 
therapy 
3. With variable pH – post obstructive diuresis, Recovery after 
ATN,Mg depletion,amphotericine B
Barrter’s Syndrome 
 Site of lesion – TAL 
 Abnormal 
NKCC2,ROMK,Cl channel 
 Na wasting,volume 
contraction 
 RAASNa reabs by 
CT 
 K&H secretion,met 
alkalosis,hypokalemia
Gitelman’s syndrome 
 Autosomal recessive 
 Abnormal NCCT 
 Na wasting RAAS 
activation 
 K & H secretion 
metabolic 
alkalosis,hypokalemia
DISTAL K+ SECRETION (TTKG>4) 
With Hypertension 
1.Hyperaldosteronism- 
Primary - Conns syndrome 
Secondary - Renal ischemia, malignant HTN,hypovolemia, 
renin secreting tumours 
2. Other forms of mineralocorticoids receptor activation - cushing 
syndrome, apparent min. excess 
3. Liddles syndrome
Hypokalemia,Hypertension & 
Alkalosis 
Disease S.aldost 
erone PRA 
S.cortisol Response 
to 
steroids 
Primary 
aldosteronism 
   No 
GRA    Yes 
AME    Yes 
Liddle’s synd     No 
Adr enz def    Yes
HYPOKALEMIA 
TREATMENT
HYPOKALEMIA-TREATMENT 
(1) decreasing potassium losses, 
 (2) replenishing potassium stores, 
 (3) evaluating for potential toxicities, 
 (4) determining the cause in order to 
prevent future episodes.
HYPOKALEMIA-TREATMENT 
 In treating hypokalemia, the first step is to identify 
and stop ongoing losses of potassium. 
 Discontinue diuretics/laxatives. 
 Use potassium-sparing diuretics if diuretic therapy is 
required (eg, severe heart failure). 
 Treat diarrhea or vomiting. 
 Use H2 blockers to decrease nasogastric suction losses. 
 Control hyperglycemia if glycosuria is present.
HYPOKALEMIA-TREATMENT 
 Repletion of potassium losses is the second step. 
 As a first approximation, for every decrease in serum 
potassium of 1 mEq/L, the potassium deficit is 
approximately 200-400 mEq.. 
 Oral potassium is absorbed readily. 
 Relatively large doses can be given safely.
HYPOKALEMIA-TREATMENT 
 if the hypokalemia is mild-moderate => po 
administration potassium chloride should 
occur more slowly over several days at 80 - 
160 meq/day in divided doses .
HYPOKALEMIA-TREATMENT 
 Intravenous potassium is less well tolerated because 
it can be highly irritating to veins and can be given 
only in relatively small doses, generally 10 mEq/h. 
 Under close cardiac supervision in emergent 
circumstances, as much as 40 mEq/h can be 
administered through a central line. 
 Oral and parenteral potassium can be used safely 
simultaneously. 
 Take ongoing potassium losses into consideration
HYPOKALEMIA-TREATMENT 
 avoid glucose-containing parenteral fluids to 
prevent an insulin-induced shift of potassium into 
the cells. 
 If the patient is acidotic, correct the potassium first 
to prevent an alkali-induced shift of potassium into 
the cells. 
 Replete magnesium if low. 
 Digoxin , liver disease –keep at 4.0 meq/l
Potassium replacement 
therapy 
 - cardiac monitoring is necessary in patients with 
profound hypokalemia (< 2.5 meq/L), or if cardiac 
arrhythmias are present, if IV potassium is planned 
 - rapid IV bolus administration of potassium is 
usually contra-indicated - the body has a limited 
ability to rapidly absorb potassium and lethal 
cardiac arrhythmias may result
Potassium replacement 
therapy 
 - IV potassium diluted in saline solution the 
maximum concentration is 40 meq/L (peripheral 
lines) or 60 meq/L (central lines) 
10 - 20 meq/hour (in the average-sized adult) for 
hypokalemia - if po potassium replacement therapy 
cannot be tolerated or if a malabsorption syndrome 
is suspected
IV infusion rate for severe or 
symptomatic hypokalemia 
 10 - 20 meq/hour Standard IV replacement rate 
 20 - 40 meq/hour Serum potassium < 2.5 meq/L or 
moderate-severe symptoms 
 > 40 meq/hour Serum potassium < 2.0 Meq/L or life-threatening 
symptoms
Thank you for your 
attention
Hypokalemia diagnosis, causes and treatment
Hypokalemia diagnosis, causes and treatment

Hypokalemia diagnosis, causes and treatment

  • 1.
    Approach to Hypokalemia Dr Garima Aggarwal 22.09.2014
  • 2.
    APPROACH TO HYPOKALEMIA PATHOPHYSIOLOGY  CLINICAL APPROACH TREATMENT
  • 4.
    Potassium homeostasis .  The ratio of intracellular to extracellular potassium determines the cellular membrane potential.  Small changes - profound effects on the function of the cardiovascular and neuromuscular systems.
  • 5.
    Cellular K+ Content  Intracellular K+ affects intra to extracellular K+  With K+ depletion , K+ loss from ECF > ICF loss causing increased Ki + / Ke+  K+ depletion : hyperpolarization  K+ retention : depolarization
  • 8.
  • 9.
    Factors modifying transcellular K+ distribution  Acid base status  Pancreatic hormones : insulin , glucagon  Catecholamines  Aldosterone  Plasma Osmolality  Exercise  Cellular K+ content
  • 10.
    Acid Base Status Alkalemia promotes K+ uptake by cells Acidemia diminishes K+ uptake by cells H+ K+ K+ H+ ACIDOSI S ALKALOSIS An oversimplification in acidosis
  • 12.
    Exercise  Recurrentcontraction increases K+ egress from muscle  Modest exercise : high K+ in ECF in local environment produces vasodilatation & thereby increased regional blood flow  Severe exercise : increase plasma K+ modestly  Physical training increases Na+K+ATPase activity in skeletal muscle which helps skeletal muscle to take up K+ again
  • 13.
    RENAL ADAPTATION Kidneys adapt to both acute and chronic alterations in potassium intake.  obligatory renal losses are 10-15 mEq/d.  Maintain potassium homeostasis until the glomerular filtration rate drops to less than 15-20 mL/min.  In the presence of renal failure, the proportion of potassium excreted through the gut increases.  However, as renal function worsens, the kidneys may not be capable of handling an acute potassium load.
  • 14.
    Renal Handling ofK+  Glomerulus: freely filtered  PCT, Thick As limb LOH : reabsorbed  DCT, CNT, CCD – secreted
  • 18.
  • 19.
    RENAL ADAPTATION Excretionis increased by  (1) aldosterone,  (2) high sodium delivery to the collecting duct (eg, diuretics),  (3) high urine flow (eg, osmotic diuresis),  (4) high serum potassium level
  • 20.
     Invitro studies  Aldosterone stimulates Na+K+ATPase and thereby activating Na + influx Aldosterone
  • 21.
    Hypokalemia  Definedas plasma concentration of K+ < 3.5 mEq/L  Mild Hypokalemia : 3.0 – 3.5 mEq/L : asymptomatic  Moderate Hypokalemia < 3.0 mEq/L : symptomatic  Severe Hypokalemia <2.5 mEq/L Clinical manifestations of hypokalemia vary greatly between individual patients & their severity depends on degree of hypokalemia
  • 22.
    Hypokalemia Decreased intake Redistribution into cells Increased loss Renal Extra renal
  • 23.
    PSEUDOHYPOKALEMIA -spurious "pseudohypokalemia" occurs in acute myelogenous leukemia  large number of leucocytes in the blood specimen (stored at room temperature)  sponge-up the extracellular potassium => artefactually low serum potassium reading
  • 24.
    Decrease K intake  Dietary – starvation, clay ingestion  IV therapy
  • 25.
    Redistribution into cells  Alkalosis  Insulin Excess  Beta-2 agonist  Alpha antagonist  Hypokalemic periodic paralysis  Anabolic state-vit. B 12, folic acid •GM CSF •Total parenteral nutrition •Hypothermia •Barium toxicity •Pseudohypokalemia
  • 26.
    GI LOSS ofK+  Secretory diarrhea  GIT fistula or small bowel enterostomy  malabsorption syndrome  excessive, voluminous vomiting  laxative abuse
  • 27.
    Transtubular potassium gradient (TTKG)  To account for the potentially confounding effect of urine concentration on the interpretation of the urine potassium  the serum-to-tubular fluid ratio of potassium at the level of the cortical collecting tubule, where potassium is secreted.  TTKG = (Urine potassium/urine osmolality : serum potassium /serum osmolality)  A value less than 3 suggests that the kidney is not wasting excessive potassium, while a value greater than 7 suggests a significant renal loss..
  • 28.
    DISTAL K+ SECRETION(TTKG>4) With normal or low blood pressure 1.With alkalosis – Diuretic therapy, Bartters and gitelmans syndrome 2. With acidosis – RTA type 1& 2, carbonic anhydrase inhibitor therapy 3. With variable pH – post obstructive diuresis, Recovery after ATN,Mg depletion,amphotericine B
  • 29.
    Barrter’s Syndrome Site of lesion – TAL  Abnormal NKCC2,ROMK,Cl channel  Na wasting,volume contraction  RAASNa reabs by CT  K&H secretion,met alkalosis,hypokalemia
  • 30.
    Gitelman’s syndrome Autosomal recessive  Abnormal NCCT  Na wasting RAAS activation  K & H secretion metabolic alkalosis,hypokalemia
  • 31.
    DISTAL K+ SECRETION(TTKG>4) With Hypertension 1.Hyperaldosteronism- Primary - Conns syndrome Secondary - Renal ischemia, malignant HTN,hypovolemia, renin secreting tumours 2. Other forms of mineralocorticoids receptor activation - cushing syndrome, apparent min. excess 3. Liddles syndrome
  • 32.
    Hypokalemia,Hypertension & Alkalosis Disease S.aldost erone PRA S.cortisol Response to steroids Primary aldosteronism    No GRA    Yes AME    Yes Liddle’s synd     No Adr enz def    Yes
  • 33.
  • 34.
    HYPOKALEMIA-TREATMENT (1) decreasingpotassium losses,  (2) replenishing potassium stores,  (3) evaluating for potential toxicities,  (4) determining the cause in order to prevent future episodes.
  • 35.
    HYPOKALEMIA-TREATMENT  Intreating hypokalemia, the first step is to identify and stop ongoing losses of potassium.  Discontinue diuretics/laxatives.  Use potassium-sparing diuretics if diuretic therapy is required (eg, severe heart failure).  Treat diarrhea or vomiting.  Use H2 blockers to decrease nasogastric suction losses.  Control hyperglycemia if glycosuria is present.
  • 36.
    HYPOKALEMIA-TREATMENT  Repletionof potassium losses is the second step.  As a first approximation, for every decrease in serum potassium of 1 mEq/L, the potassium deficit is approximately 200-400 mEq..  Oral potassium is absorbed readily.  Relatively large doses can be given safely.
  • 37.
    HYPOKALEMIA-TREATMENT  ifthe hypokalemia is mild-moderate => po administration potassium chloride should occur more slowly over several days at 80 - 160 meq/day in divided doses .
  • 38.
    HYPOKALEMIA-TREATMENT  Intravenouspotassium is less well tolerated because it can be highly irritating to veins and can be given only in relatively small doses, generally 10 mEq/h.  Under close cardiac supervision in emergent circumstances, as much as 40 mEq/h can be administered through a central line.  Oral and parenteral potassium can be used safely simultaneously.  Take ongoing potassium losses into consideration
  • 39.
    HYPOKALEMIA-TREATMENT  avoidglucose-containing parenteral fluids to prevent an insulin-induced shift of potassium into the cells.  If the patient is acidotic, correct the potassium first to prevent an alkali-induced shift of potassium into the cells.  Replete magnesium if low.  Digoxin , liver disease –keep at 4.0 meq/l
  • 40.
    Potassium replacement therapy  - cardiac monitoring is necessary in patients with profound hypokalemia (< 2.5 meq/L), or if cardiac arrhythmias are present, if IV potassium is planned  - rapid IV bolus administration of potassium is usually contra-indicated - the body has a limited ability to rapidly absorb potassium and lethal cardiac arrhythmias may result
  • 41.
    Potassium replacement therapy  - IV potassium diluted in saline solution the maximum concentration is 40 meq/L (peripheral lines) or 60 meq/L (central lines) 10 - 20 meq/hour (in the average-sized adult) for hypokalemia - if po potassium replacement therapy cannot be tolerated or if a malabsorption syndrome is suspected
  • 42.
    IV infusion ratefor severe or symptomatic hypokalemia  10 - 20 meq/hour Standard IV replacement rate  20 - 40 meq/hour Serum potassium < 2.5 meq/L or moderate-severe symptoms  > 40 meq/hour Serum potassium < 2.0 Meq/L or life-threatening symptoms
  • 43.
    Thank you foryour attention