What is Pseudohyperkalemia?!
Question: What is Pseudohyperkalemia!?
My mom has had many problems with passing out and waking up with contractors of her arms and legs!. She also slurs her words!. In 1 hour, she gets better and goes on a few months til it happens again!. Since her doctor doesn't seem to know what is going on, I've done some research on this and found pseudohyperkalemia and it sounds very similar to her symptoms!. Her potassium level was low when she had her last episode, but it wasn't on her prior episodes!. Does anyone know about this disease or what she could have!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Pseudohyperkalemia is a rise in the amount of potassium that occurs due to excessive leakage of potassium from cells, during or after blood is drawn!. It is a laboratory artifact rather than a biological abnormality and can be misleading to caregivers!.
Pseudohyperkalemia is typically caused by hemolysis during venipuncture (by either excessive vacuum of the blood draw or by a collection needle that is of too fine a gauge); excessive tournequet time or fist clenching during phlebotomy (which presumably leads to efflux of potassium from the muscle cells into the bloodstream)
or by a delay in the processing of the blood specimen!. It can also occur in specimens from patients with abnormally high numbers of platelets (>1,000,000/mm3), leukocytes (> 100 000/mm3), or erythrocytes (hematocrit > 55%)!. People with "leakier" cell membranes have been found, whose blood must be separated immediately to avoid pseudohyperkalemia!.
Treatment
1!. When arrhythmias occur, or when potassium levels exceed 6!.5 mmol/l, emergency lowering of potassium levels is mandated!. Several agents are used to lower K levels!. Choice depends on the degree and cause of the hyperkalemia, and other aspects of the patient's condition!.
2!. Calcium supplementation (calcium gluconate 10% (10ml), preferably through a central venous catheter as the calcium may cause phlebitis) does not lower potassium but decreases myocardial excitability, protecting against life threatening arrhythmias!.
3!. Preventing recurrence of hyperkalemia typically involves reduction of dietary potassium, removal of an offending medication, and/or the addition of a diuretic (such as furosemide (Lasix) or hydrochlorothiazide)!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Pseudohyperkalemia is typically caused by hemolysis during venipuncture (by either excessive vacuum of the blood draw or by a collection needle that is of too fine a gauge); excessive tournequet time or fist clenching during phlebotomy (which presumably leads to efflux of potassium from the muscle cells into the bloodstream)
or by a delay in the processing of the blood specimen!. It can also occur in specimens from patients with abnormally high numbers of platelets (>1,000,000/mm3), leukocytes (> 100 000/mm3), or erythrocytes (hematocrit > 55%)!. People with "leakier" cell membranes have been found, whose blood must be separated immediately to avoid pseudohyperkalemia!.
Treatment
1!. When arrhythmias occur, or when potassium levels exceed 6!.5 mmol/l, emergency lowering of potassium levels is mandated!. Several agents are used to lower K levels!. Choice depends on the degree and cause of the hyperkalemia, and other aspects of the patient's condition!.
2!. Calcium supplementation (calcium gluconate 10% (10ml), preferably through a central venous catheter as the calcium may cause phlebitis) does not lower potassium but decreases myocardial excitability, protecting against life threatening arrhythmias!.
3!. Preventing recurrence of hyperkalemia typically involves reduction of dietary potassium, removal of an offending medication, and/or the addition of a diuretic (such as furosemide (Lasix) or hydrochlorothiazide)!.Www@Answer-Health@Com