Potassium Deficiency in Chronic Renal Disease

Chronic Potassium Depletion Due to Purgation with Cascara

“…If this were so, the patient's condition would have represented "potassium-losing nephritis." However, the reported observations in this syndrome do not support this hypothesis, for in such cases urine potassium excretion has always been high in the face of hypokalaemia (Brown et al, 1944;Burrows et al, 1949;Earle et at., 1951;Schoch, 1951;Darmady et al, 1955). Indeed, the obverse of this proposition might perhaps be entertained-namely, that the potassium deficiency in this patient so damaged the kidneys that they were rendered susceptible either to a fresh infection or to an exacerbation of a smouldering chronic one.…”

The Changing Emphasis in the Management of Renal Diseases

“…of potassium chloride in 0.1 to 0.2 per cent solution of 5 per cent glucose or normal saline may be given intravenously. 29 Of course, the renal incapacity renders the administration of potassium hazardous. Hence, every precaution of frequent serum potassium determinations and electrocardiographic tracings must be invoked in its control.…”