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Decrease in total body potassium

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

An abnormal loss of potassium from the body is the commonest cause of hypokalaemia (1).

  • medications
    • diuretics
    • laxatives and enemas
    • corticosteroids (1)
  • losses from the GI tract
  • losses from the renal tract associated with metabolic acidosis
  • losses from the renal tract associated with metabolic alkalosis
  • skin losses, e.g. excess sweating, burns
  • hypomagnesemia
  • dialysis/plasmapheresis (1,2)

Reference:

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