V.S. Lukianchikov

Xema-Medica LLC, Moscow

Hypokalemia is the most common form of electrolyte imbalance. The article contains the etiological and pathogenetic hypokalemia classification, which includes more than 20 categories and reflects a wide range of conditions, accompanied by a decrease in the level of potassium in the blood to 3.5 mmol/l and below. A significant part of the hypokalemia etiopathogenetic variants is considered in detail in terms of causes and mechanisms of its development. Particular attention is paid to iatrogenic hypokalemia, which is an intensive therapy complication, as well as hypokalemia in the setting of relatively rare conditions and diseases, little known to practitioners. The main part of the article is devoted to the definitions of hypokalemia syndrome and its clinical and laboratory diagnosis. The article also shows exceptional variability and nonspecific nature of syndrome clinical manifestations, simulating a variety, usually acute pathology, which in fact makes it almost impossible to diagnose hypokalemia clinically. At the same time, hypokalemia syndrome verification by the level of potassium in the blood is also associated with a number of objective and subjective limitations and difficulties. Methods, means, and ways to overcome diagnostic difficulties are specified. A scheme-algorithm for the main hypokalemia types diagnosis is proposed. The risks accompanying dietary and medical correction of hypokalemia are analyzed. Safe approaches to hypokalemia elimination are discussed.

Keywords: hypokalemia, intensive care complications, infusion therapy, electrolyte imbalance, aldosteronism, arterial hypertension, renal tubular pathology, arrhythmia, heart failure, kidney failure.
For citation: Lukianchikov V.S. Hypokalemia. RMJ. 2019;1(I):28–32.