CLINICAL TRIAL
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Variations of serum potassium level and risk of hyperkalemia in inpatients receiving low-molecular-weight heparin.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the variations of serum potassium level in patients receiving low-molecular weight heparin, assess the consequent risk of hyperkalemia and evaluate the clinical contributory factors.

METHODS: A prospective study was performed on consecutive inpatients treated with low-molecular-weight heparin as indicated by the attending physicians. The changes of serum potassium level observed within 5-8 days were tested by univariate and multivariate analysis according to demographic and clinical variables and concomitant pharmacological therapy.

RESULTS: Four hundred and sixteen patients (mean age 73 years; 64% female) were enrolled in the study over 15 months. After receiving nadroparin or enoxaparin (mean daily dosage: 76.3 anti-factor Xa unit/kg) for a median 6-day period, their mean (+/-SD) serum potassium level increased from 4.2+/-0.5 mmol/l to 4.5+/-0.5 mmol/l ( P<0.0001). This change was significantly correlated with baseline potassium, interval between potassium samplings, history of hypertension or renal insufficiency, and marginally with aldosterone antagonist treatment. Hyperkalemia, defined as potassium exceeding 5.5 mmol/l, developed in ten patients (2.4%) and the highest value observed was 7.6 mmol/l; by multivariate logistic-regression analysis, history of diabetes was the only significant independent predictor (odds ratio 6.5; 95% C.I.=1.7-24.8).

CONCLUSION: Short-term treatment with low-molecular-weight heparin induces a significant increase in serum potassium level but the related incidence of relevant hyperkalemia is low. However, given the high absolute number of patients currently exposed to the risk in many clinical settings and the limitation of risk prediction, clinicians should prevent this life-threatening complication by a high index of suspicion and, accordingly, a quite routine monitoring of serum potassium.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app