Clinical review for general practice

ISSN (Print) 2713-2552
ISSN (Online) 2782-5671
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FULLSCREEN > Archive > 2022 > Vol 3, №1 (2022) > Pseudohyperkalemia in general practice. Diagnostic search in hyperkalemia

Pseudohyperkalemia in general practice. Diagnostic search in hyperkalemia

Irina A. Afanaseva , Aleksandra I. Kim

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Abstract

Hyperkalemia could be a serious diagnostic challenge to general practitioners, since it could be a life-threatening condition. The causes of hyperkalemia are diverse. These include preanalytical errors, release of potassium resulting from cell lysis, potassium shifting between intra- and extracellular spaces, decreased renal excretion, administration of medications. Diagnostic search should start with history taking.  Initial clinical and laboratory tests are usually scheduled by the general practitioner at the outpatient stage. In case of excluded pseudohyperkalemia and medication effects, when hyperkalemia cannot be explained by the existing patient’s disorders, the search for undiscovered kidney, endocrine or cardiovascular diseases should be carried out. 
Key words: hyperkalemia, potassium, differential diagnosis.

About the Author

Irina A. Afanaseva 1 , Aleksandra I. Kim 2

1 JSC Group of companies MEDSI, Moscow, Russia;

2 Rostov State Medical University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia

References

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For citation:Afanaseva I.A., Kim A.I. Pseudohyperkalemia in general practice. Diagnostic search in hyperkalemia. Clinical review for general practice. 2022; 1: 16–19. DOI: 10.47407/kr2022.3.1.00112


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