Hypokalemia historical perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

The prefix hypo- means low (contrast with hyper-, meaning high). The middle kal refers to kalium, which is Neo-Latin for potassium. The end portion of the word, -emia, means “in the blood” (note, however, that hypokalemia is usually indicative of a systemic potassium deficit).

• Potassium was discovered in 1807 by Sir Humphry Davy in 1807 in England^[1].
• He discovered potassium by means of electrolysis from potash.
• It was the first alkali metal to be discovered.
• The prefix hypo- means low (contrast with hyper-, meaning high). The middle kal refers to kalium, which is Neo-Latin for potassium. The end portion of the word, -emia, means “in the blood” (note, however, that hypokalemia is usually indicative of a systemic potassium deficit).

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