Common acid-base disorders associated with hypokalaemia
type of disturbance | key feature |
hypokalaemic acidosis | |
diarrhoea, laxative misuse, and other lower gastrointestinal loss | normal serum chloride |
diabetic ketoacidosis | high ketones; potassium drops after IV insulin is administered |
renal tubular acidosis | associated with autoimmune disease (type 1) and Fanconi's syndrome (type 2) |
hypokalaemic alkalosis |
|
vomiting and other upper GI loss | low serum chloride |
mineralocorticoid excess (such as primary hyperaldosteronism) | high blood pressure |
hereditary renal channelopathies: |
|
Bartter's syndrome | presents in the childhood |
Gitelman's syndrome | often asymptomatic, presents in the adulthood |
Liddle's syndrome | high blood pressure, low rennin and aldosterone |
diuretic use | drug history |
Reference:
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