We have located links that may give you full text access.
Importance of potassium in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
The records of 151 patients entering a coronary care unit and subsequently diagnosed as having an acute myocardial infarction were reviewed. The prevalence of hypokalemia, its relationship to diuretic treatment and the development of either ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation were studied. At admission, 14% of patients were hypokalemic. The presence of hypokalemia was related to previous diuretic therapy. Twenty-three percent of patients receiving diuretics as compared to 7% of patients not taking diuretics had a serum potassium of 3.5 mEq/L or less. Thirty-seven patients experienced either ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. The presence of hypokalemia was associated with an increased frequency of both of these arrhythmias. Sixty-seven percent of patients with a serum potassium of less than 3.1 mEq/L had these serious ventricular arrhythmias compared to 40% of patients with a serum potassium between 3.1 and 3.5 mEq/L and 20% of normokalemic patients. The prevalence of premature ventricular beats was not correlated with the presence of hypokalemia. We conclude that hypokalemia is not only a common problem in patients with acute myocardial infarction but a clinically significant factor in the development of life threatening arrhythmias. Primary prevention of hypokalemia and its prompt treatment are indicated in these patients.
Full text links
Related Resources
Trending Papers
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment.Clinical Research in Cardiology : Official Journal of the German Cardiac Society 2024 April 12
Proximal versus distal diuretics in congestive heart failure.Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation 2024 Februrary 30
Efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy in chronic insomnia: A review of clinical guidelines and case reports.Mental Health Clinician 2023 October
World Health Organization and International Consensus Classification of eosinophilic disorders: 2024 update on diagnosis, risk stratification, and management.American Journal of Hematology 2024 March 30
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
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