Management of mild hyperkalemia with sodium polystyrene sulfonate: is it necessary?. (September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yousaf, Farhanah; Spinowitz, Bruce; Charytan, Chaim
• Is Part Of: Clinical practice. Volume 11:Number 5(2014)
• Page Start: 501
• Page End: 507
• Publication Date: 2014-09
• Subjects: cation-exchange resin -- ECG -- hyperkalemia -- management -- mild -- potassium -- sodium polystyrene sulfonate; Therapeutics -- Periodicals; 615.505
• DOI: 10.2217/cpr.14.52
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2044-9046

Abstract

Aim: There is no consensus defining clinically significant hyperkalemia or settings which require potassium (K + ) lowering therapy. We explored the management of mild hyperkalemia, defined as a serum K + ≤5.6 mEq/l, when treated with sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS).Materials & methods: Medical records of patients ≥18 years, who had received SPS for serum K + ≤5.6 mEq/l, were reviewed.Results: A total of 106 SPS doses were given to 92 patients for a serum K + ≤5.6 mEq/l. Significant delays between the pre-SPS serum K + and SPS administration and between SPS administration and follow-up serum K + were evident.Conclusion: Mild elevations in potassium, which may not be clinically significant, are often treated with SPS while its therapeutic monitoring remains inadequate.