Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY
Volume 158, Issue 1, Pages 12-17Publisher
ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2011.06.121
Keywords
Potassium; Hypokalemia; Heart failure; Diuretics
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Maintenance of normal potassium (K+) homeostasis has become an increasingly important limiting factor in the therapy of heart failure (HF). With the application of loop diuretics and digoxin, hypokalemia has become a frequent and feared side effect of treatment. Low serum K+ in HF may be also a marker of increased neurohormonal activity and disease progression. To gain the maximum benefit from treatment, we need to individualize drug use and carefully monitor electrolytes. Symptomatic HF patients (New York Heart Association class III-IV) should be prescribed the lowest dose of diuretic necessary to maintain euvolemia. Mild hypokalemia may be corrected by the use of aldosterone receptor antagonists such as spironolactone or eplerenone. However, a more severe hypokalemia should preferably be corrected using K+ supplement. Serum K levels should be frequently checked and maintained between 4.0 and 5.5 mEq/l (mmol/l). (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available