Analysis of Hypokalemia in Emergency Patients / 대한신장학회잡지

OBJECTIVES: Hypokalemia is one of the most common electrolyte disorders encountered in clinical medicine. It is important electrolyte disorder because it is account for neuromuscular, cardiovascular and renal disturbance. But there are few studies to evaluate the incidence and cause of hypokalemia in emergency patients. Present study was performed to evaluate the incidence and cause of hypokalemia and coincidental changes of other electrolyte and chemical parameters of blood and urine. METHODS: Hypokalemia was defined as a serum potassium concentration less than 3.5mEq/L. A total 80 medical patient without renal failure were prospectively studied for 62 days. Electrolytes and chemical parameters of the blood and urine were determined at emergency room. RESULTS: 1) Of medical inpatients through emergency room, hypokalemia was detected in high frequency(32%) and mild degree(mean; 3.1+/-0.1mEq/L). 2) The most common cause of hypokalemia was diuretics(23%), other causes were vomiting, SIADH, diarrhea, alkalemia, and unidentified cause(each; 15.4%). 3) Compared to the normokalemic group, the hypokalemic group showed significant decrease in urinary anion gap(P=0.003). 4) There was no significant difference of spot urine potassium concentrations between renal and extrarenal origin of hypokalemia. CONCLUSION: The hypokalemia in emergency patients was detected in high frequency and mild degree. Urine anion gap was significantly decreased in hypokalemic group than normokalemic group. Spot urine potassium concentration was less effective in differentiation of renal and extrarenal origin of hypokalemia.

A statistical study on obesity, blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, serum apolipoprotein B and urine sodium and potassium in middle school children

No abstract available.

Studies on Urinary Excretions of Sodium, Potassium and Urea Nitrogen and Urine Volume for 24 Hours in Rural Korean / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Daily excretions of sodium, potassium and urea nitrogen and urine volume of normal Korean were reported by several authors. However, it is generally suspected that dietary composition of Koreans improved during last decade. Author have hypothetized that changes of diet composition could modify urine compositions and volume. In order to determine the urine composition and volume in the late 1970`s, sodium and potassium concentrations were measured by flame photometry and urea nitrogen by urease indophenol method in the urine from 50 rural residents. The residents were composed of 10 public officials, 18 male farmers and 22 female farmers. Followings were the results: 1. Daily urine volume Total average : 1594.20+/-443.89 ml/day, Public official : 1714.00+/-548.00 ml/day Male farmer :1508.89+/-310. 54ml/day, Female farmer: 1612.27+/-496.04 ml/day 2. Daily urinary sodium excretion Total average : 5.19+/-1.21 g/day. Public official : 5.62+/-1.93 g/day Male farmer : 4.73+/-1.10 g/day, Female farmer: 5.37+/-0.98 g/day 3. Daily urinary potassium excretion Total average : 1.79+/-0.59 g/day, Public official : 1.97+/-0.60 g/day Male farmer : 1.91+/-0.59 g/day, Female farmer : 1.62+/-0.58 g/day 4. Daily urinary urea nitrogen excretion Total average : 7.26+/-l.95 g/day, Public official : 8.06+/-1.65 g/day Male farmer: 7.53+/-2.40 g/day. Female farmer : 6.67+/-1.65 g/day A comparison of these data with corresponding figures obtained from Western reporters indicate that the concentration and excretion of sodium of rural Koreans are still higher significantly, while those of potassium and urea nitrogen are lower than those of Westerns significantly. On the other hand, a comparison with corresponding figures obtained from other Korean reporters in the 1960's indicate that sodium excretion of present data is lower while potassium and urea nitrogen are higher than those of the 1960's. It is speculated that these peculiarities of urinary composition shown in rural Koreans in the late 1970's are attributed to improved protein ingestion combined with decreased salt intake as compared to 1960's, however, the levels are still far from Westerns.