Hyperkalemia history and symptoms

Hyperkalemia often has no symptoms. Occasionally, people may have the following symptoms: irregular heartbeat, nausea, slow, weak, or absent pulse. Extreme degrees of hyperkalemia are considered a medical emergency due to the risk of potentially fatal arrhythmias. A detailed history taking is very helpful in diagnosing the cause of hyperkalemia.

A detailed history taking is very helpful in diagnosing the cause of hyperkalemia.^[1][2][3]

• Dietary history^[4]
  • Potassium supplements in herbal supplements, salt substitutes
  • Fruits, dried fruits, juices, banana and vegetables
• Medication history
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
  • Angiotensin receptor blockers
  • Potassium-sparing diuretics, especially popular in the treatment of cirrhosis and congestive heart failure
  • Cyclosporine or tacrolimus
  • pentamidine
• Medical history^[3][5][6][4]
  • Renal failure^[7]
  • Diabetes mellitus^[8]
  • Sickle cell disease or trait
  • Urinary tract obstruction –
  • Type IV renal tubular acidosis, also called hyperkalemic renal tubular acidosis. It can be seen with polycystic kidney disease, amyloidosis and diabetes mellitus.
  • The combination of abdominal pain, hypoglycemia and hyperpigmentation, often in the context of a history of other autoimmune disorders, may be signs of Addison’s disease, itself a medical emergency.

• Hyperkalemia often has no symptoms and the problem may be detected during screening blood tests for another medical disorder, or it may only come to medical attention after complications have developed.

• Patients may present with symptoms such as:
  • Nausea
  • Malaise
  • Palpitations
  • Muscle weakness
  • Mild breathlessness (may indicate respiratory acidosis)

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