my mother who is 65 has been told by her g.p she has abnormal high levels of potassium in her blood, she is to be monitored, but i think there is something more it to than what she is telling me, does anyone know anymore info?
2006-09-19 21:01:50 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
The kidneys normally excrete excess potassium from the body. Therefore, most cases of hyperkalemia are caused by disorders that reduce the kidneys' ability to excrete potassium. Insufficient kidney function may result from disorders including (but not limited to):
Acute kidney failure
Chronic kidney failure
Lupus nephritis
Transplant rejection of a kidney transplant
Obstructive uropathy
Glomerulonephritis
2006-09-19 21:04:58 · answer #1 · answered by Vuitton 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The gp cant be too worried as he would have recommended more than monitoring, were the rest of her blood results ok? it could be a mild problem - some people do live with blood results that are slightly out of 'normal' range it doesnt necessarily mean that there are any major problems, if you are concerned give the gp a ring - although due to confidentiality reasons he wont be able to discuss your mum, but he will be able to inform you of general concerns surrounding a high potassium, maybe you could ask your mum if you could go with her on her nxt visit, sometimes its better that there are two of you to listen to the advice and reassure you both, often information can become confusing when heard second hand
2006-09-23 14:09:05 · answer #2 · answered by FRED 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hyperkalemia, defined as a plasma K+ concentration of >5.0 mmol/L, occurs as a result of either K+ release from cells or decreased renal loss. Causes of hyperkalemia include the ff.:
I. Renal Failure
II. Decreased distal flow (i.e., decreased effective circulating arterial volume)
III. Decreased K+ secretion
A. Impaired Na+ reabsorption
1. Primary hypoaldosteronism: adrenal insufficiency,
adrenal enzyme deficiency
2. Secondary hypoaldosteronism: drugs (ACE inhibitors,
NSAIDS, heparin), hyporeninemia
3. Resistance to aldosterone: pseudohypoaldosteronism,
tubulointerstitial disease, drugs (K+ sparing diuretics,
trimethoprim, pentamidine)
B. Enhanced Cl- reabsorption
1. Gordon's syndrome
2. Cyclosporine
What the doctor had in mind when he requested for potassium monitoring was the most serious effect of hyperkalemia that is cardiac toxicity with the terminal event as ventricular fibrillation or asystole. Bearing in mind that your mother is elderly and with hyperkalemia, monitoring is really required to check for cardiac involvement.
2006-09-20 08:56:57 · answer #3 · answered by doc_maldita 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Normal potassium in blood serum levels are 3.5-5.0 mM
2006-09-20 04:13:09 · answer #4 · answered by g_man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
normal potassium level is 3.5 to 5.5
above or below this range is really dangerous.
2006-09-20 04:05:51 · answer #5 · answered by drinda_house 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this link will explain more
http://www.webmd.com/hw/lab_tests/hw202677.asp
2006-09-20 04:05:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋