Transient hyperkalemia and hypoaldosteronism in a patient with acute glomerulonephritis.

ABSTRACT

The authors describe a 7-year-old boy with acute glomerulonephritis, who developed acute renal failure in the early course of his disease. While the renal function and other clinical manifestations gradually improved, hyperkalemia occurred unexpectedly, and returned to normal level spontaneously after a short period of symptomatic treatment. With the result of a low transtubular potassium gradient (TTKG) level, it was concluded that hypoaldosteronism was the major cause of hyperkalemia in this patient.