Prevalence and risk factors of hyperkalemia after liver transplantation / Prevalência e fatores de risco associados à hipercalemia após o transplante hepático

ABSTRACT Background: There is a lack of data regarding hyperkalemia after liver transplantation. Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of hyperkalemia after liver transplantation and its associated factors. Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated 147 consecutive post-transplant patients who had at least one year of outpatient medical follow up. The data collection included gender, age, potassium values, urea, creatinine, sodium and medication use at 1, 6 and 12 months after. Hyperkalemia was defined as serum potassium concentrations higher than 5.5 mEq/l. Results: Hiperkalemia was observed in 18.4%, 17.0% and 6.1% of patients 1, 6 and 12 months after tranplantation, respectively. Older age (p=0.021), low creatinine clearance (p=0.007), increased urea (p=0.010) and hypernatremia (p=0.014) were factors associated with hyperkalemia, as well as the dose of prednisone at six months (p=0.014). Conclusion: Hyperkalemia was prevalent in less than 20% of patients in the 1st month after liver transplantation and decreased over time. Considering that hyperkalemia does not affect all patients, attention should be paid to the routine potassium intake recommendations, and treatment should be individualized.

RESUMO Racional: Existe lacuna na literatura em relação à presença de hipercalemia em pacientes submetidos ao transplante hepático. Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalência de hipercalemia após o transplante hepático; e avaliar os fatores de risco associados a essa condição. Métodos: Estudo de coorte retrospectivo, no qual foram avaliados 147 pacientes submetidos ao transplante hepático, com tempo de seguimento de um ano. A coleta de dados compreendeu gênero, idade, valores séricos de potássio, ureia, creatinina, sódio e medicamentos utilizados no tempo de 1, 6 e 12 meses após o transplante. Hipercalemia foi definida como valores de potássio sérico maiores do que 5,5 mEq/l. Resultados: Hipercalemia foi observada em 18,4%, 17,0% e 6,1% dos pacientes no 1º, 6º e 12º meses após o transplante, consecutivamente. Idade avançada (p=0,021), baixos valores de creatinina sérica (p=0,007), valores aumentados de ureia (p=0,010) e hipernatremia (p=0,014) foram fatores associados à hipercalemia, assim como a dose de prednisona no 6º mês após o transplante (p=0,014). Conclusão: Hipercalemia esteve presente em menos de 20% dos pacientes no primeiro mês após o transplante hepático, com diminuição da prevalência ao longo do tempo. Considerando que ela não afeta todos os pacientes, o tratamento dietético deve ser individualizado, com especial atenção à recomendação de administração de potássio de forma rotineira.

Potassium abnormalities in current clinical practice: frequency, causes, severity and management

We aimed to investigate the prevalence and etiology of potassium abnormalities [hypokalemia and hyperkalemia] and management approaches for hospitalized patients. Over a 4-month period, all hospitalized patients at Hacettepe University Medical Faculty Hospitals who underwent at least one measurement of serum potassium during hospitalization were included. Data on serum levels of electrolytes, demographic characteristics, cause[s] of hospitalization, medications, etiology of potassium abnormality and treatment approaches were obtained from the hospital records. Of the 9,045 hospitalized patients, 1,265 [14.0%] had a serum potassium abnormality; 604 [6.7%] patients had hypokalemia and 661 [7.30%] had hyperkalemia. In the hypokalemic patients, the most important reasons were gastrointestinal losses in 555 [91.8%] patients and renal losses in 252 [41.7%] patients. The most frequent treatment strategies were correcting the underlying cause and replacing the potassium deficit. Of the 604 hypokalemic patients, 319 [52.8%] were normokalemic at hospital discharge. The most common reason for hyperkalemia was treatment with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers in 228 [34.4%] patients, followed by renal failure in 191 [28.8%]. Two hundred and ninety-eight [45.0%] patients were followed without any specific treatment. Of the 661 hyperkalemic patients, 324 [49.0%] were normokalemic at hospital discharge. This study showed a high prevalence of potassium imbalance among hospitalized patients. Although most of the potassium abnormalities were mild/moderate, approximately half of the patients treated for hypokalemia or hyperkalemia were discharged from the hospital with ongoing dyskalemia

Hyperkaliemie chez les patients en hemodialyse chronique a Yaounde : prevalence; manifestations cliniques et electrocardiographiques

Introduction : L'hyperkaliemie est frequente chez les patients hemodialyses. Elle expose ces derniers au risque de mort subite. Son dosage ne fait pas partie des examens de routine en hemodialyse au Cameroun. Le but de notre etude etait de determiner sa prevalence et ses manifestations cliniques et electrocardiographiques chez les patients hemodialyses chroniques a l'Hopital General de Yaounde. Patients et methodes : Nous avons mene une etude transversale de novembre 2012 a fevrier 2013. Tous les patients hemodialyses depuis plus de 03 mois ayant accepte de participer a l'etude ont ete inclus. Chez chacun d'entre eux nous avons realise avant le debut de leurs premiere et deuxieme seances hebdomadaires de dialyse; un examen clinique; un dosage sanguin de potassium; de sodium et de calcium ionise et un electrocardiogramme. Resultats :Un total de 88 patients a ete retenu. La prevalence de l'hyperkaliemie etait de 38;7avant le debut de la premiere seance de dialyse et e 17 avant la seconde seance. Une paresie a ete retrouvee dans 03 cas et dans tous ces cas le taux de kaliemie etait au moins de 7;5 mEq/l. Deux cas ont presente un signe electrocardiographique pouvant se rapporter a l'hyperkaliemie; il s'agissait d'une onde T ample. Conclusion : L'hyperkaliemie est bien frequente chez nos patients hemodialyses chroniques; mais ses manifestations cliniques et electrocardiographiques ne sont pas courantes

Hiperpotassemia na vigência de espironolactona em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca descompensada / Hyperkalemia during spironolactone use in patients with decompensated heart failure

FUNDAMENTO: A incidência de hiperpotassemia relacionada à espironolactona é baixa na insuficiência cardíaca estável, entretanto não foi estudada durante a descompensação. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência da espironolactona na insuficiência cardíaca descompensada sobre o potássio sérico. MÉTODOS: Em um estudo de coorte, selecionamos pacientes hospitalizados por descompensação da insuficiência cardíaca, FEVE < 0,45 e potássio sérico entre 3,5 e 5,5 mEq/l. Os pacientes foram divididos segundo o uso da espironolactona (grupo E) ou não (grupo C). O desfecho foi aumento do potássio (> 6,0 mEq/l) e uso de poliestireno de cálcio. Realizou-se a análise multivariada pela regressão logística, e p < 0,05 foi considerado significante. RESULTADOS: Foram estudados 186 pacientes (grupo E: 56; grupo C: 130), FEVE 0,25, idade 55,5 anos e 65,2 por cento de homens. A incidência de hiperpotassemia foi de 10,7 por cento no grupo E e de 5,4 por cento no grupo C (p = 0,862). A análise multivariada mostrou que a uréia sérica > 60,5 mg/dl, durante a internação, apresenta risco relativo de 9,6 (IC 95 por cento 8,03 - 11,20; p = 0,005) para a ocorrência de hiperpotassemia. CONCLUSÃO: A incidência de hiperpotassemia foi duas vezes maior com espironolactona, mas não estatisticamente significante. Elevação da uréia foi associada à hiperpotassemia. Estudos randomizados são necessários para esclarecer o assunto.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of hyperkalemia related to spironolactone use is low in stable heart failure; however, it has not been studied during decompensation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of spironolactone on serum potassium in decompensated heart failure (HF). METHODS: In a cohort study, patients that had been hospitalized due to decompensated HF, with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 0.45 and serum potassium between 3.5 and 5.5 mEq/l were selected. The patients were divided according to spironolactone use (Group S) or no use (Group C). The outcome was potassium increase (> 6.0 mEq/l) and the use of calcium polystyrene. A multivariate analysis through logistic regression was carried out and values of p < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 186 patients (group S: 56; group C: 130) were studied; LVEF of 0.25, aged 55.5 years and 65.2 percent of them males. The incidence of hyperkalemia was 10.7 percent in group S and 5.4 percent in group C (p = 0.862). The multivariate analysis showed that serum urea > 60.5 mg/dl during the hospitalization presents a relative risk of 9.6 (95 percentCI 8.03 - 11.20; p = 0.005) for the occurrence of hyperkalemia. CONCLUSION: The incidence of hyperkalemia was two-fold higher with spironolactone use, but it was not statistically significant. The increase in urea levels was associated to the hyperkalemia. Randomized studies are necessary to clarify this issue.