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Talk:Hypokalemia

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Danielil (talk | contribs) at 21:17, 15 June 2007 (→Hair Loss). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

What exactly does the unit mEq mean? Simon A. 09:56, 10 Sep 2004 (UTC)

I have written a stub at milliequivalent. It is actually quite a complex concept, and I'm surprised it hasn't already been covered. -- FirstPrinciples 14:29, Sep 10, 2004 (UTC).
OK, I've expanded that article and moved it to Equivalent weight (chemistry) -- FirstPrinciples 04:07, Sep 11, 2004 (UTC)

Hypokalemia

As I understand hypokalemia, and its causes, I believe it can also be genetic.

I'm glad you understand hypokalemia! Honestly, there are a few hereditary conditions in which there is low potassium (e.g. Bartter syndrome, periodic paralysis), but the vast majority is not genetic. JFW | T@lk 06:50, 1 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

This statement seems to contradict itself. "...potassium is needed to repolarize the cell membrane to a resting state after an action potential has passed. Decreased potassium levels in the extracellular will cause hyperpolarization of the resting membrane potential." The first part says that potassium is needed to repolarize the cell, implying that a lack of potassium would result in a depolarized cell. The next part says that the lack of potassium causes hyperpolarization. 05:33, 15 December 2005 (UTC)

Decreased extracellular potassium levels cause a greater difference between intracellular and extracellular potassium levels, thus creating hyperpolarization. Still potassium is indeed needed for repolarization. But even with low potassium levels, the cell is able to pump potassium into the cell (using NaKATPase). The repolarization will take longer though. The first place where this will be problematic is in the heart with hypokalemia leading to arrythmia's. A total lack of potassium would lead to death very quickly. --WS 11:15, 15 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I know that you are correct about the role of potassium in action potentials, I just think that the way that that statement is worded is confusing. When it says that potassium is needed for repolarization after the action potential, it is not talking about extracellular potassium. It is intercellular potassium that is needed for repolarization, and hypokalemia is a lack of extracellular potassium. This increases the relative concentration of intercellular potassium, which is responsible for repolarization. The two sentences are talking about different things, but it is not very clear. I also think that when you said above that repolarization will take longer with low potassium levels that is misleading, as well. Again, this is referring to low intercellular potassium, and hypokalemia results in an increased concentration of intercellular potassium, relative to the outside of the cell. It is a decrease of extracellular potassium that leads to the hyperpolarization. When this is the case, the repolarization will not take longer. 19:31, 16 December 2005 (UTC)

Relationship of Hypokalemia and Muscular Dystrophy

Noticed that User:Danieliralevy removed the Muscular Dystrophy template I placed on the page yesterday. I have no qualms with him doing so but am hoping to resolve the reasoning why others have sated on the main Muscular Dystrophy page that Hypokalemia is classified as muscular dystrophy under "Less Common Myophathies", "Periodic Paralysis". It may well be that the muscular dystrophy page is wrong and would like to correct that if so. Any thoughts/ideas/sources would be appreciated. Theflyer 04:33, 8 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Muscular dystrophy is an inherited disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness (myopathy) and loss of muscle mass (atrophy) due to defects in genes required for normal functioning of muscle. Severe hypokalemia (and hyperkalemia) can cause muscle weakness, but the symptoms only occur until the electrolyte disorder is corrected. A seperate set of hereditary disorders, hypokalemic & hyperkalemic periodic paralysis, are hereditary (genetic). These disorders are paroxysmal (come on as acute attacks) and are associated with defective ion channels that can either make the muscle more sensitive to the abnormal potassium concentration, and/or can cause shifts of potassium in or out of the cells which causes the electrolyte disorder. The periodic paralyses are nueromuscular disorders, but certainly not muscular dystrophies. I believe that putting that long block of muscle disorders on a hyperkalemia or hypokalemia page is not at all appropriate. However, I can certainly add a few lines to the causes and pathophysiology sections.Dan Levy 15:19, 8 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Dan, Thank you for the response. Please feel free to add information as you feel appropriate to the Hypokalemia page about its relationship to MD. I do not have a problem with the Hypokalemia's editors deciding against using the Muscular Dystrophy template. More importantly, it appears we may need to fix something in Wikipedia because the Muscular Dystrophy article does link Hypokalemic and Hyperkalemic, which you claim are different diseases from hypokalemia and hyperkalemia. If this is true, then we definitely need to break those redirects and make separate articles for the hereditary versions. I'm also engaging over on the Talk:Muscular dystrophy page to see if I can get better sourcing/information on why Hypokalemic and Hyperkalemia are "Generally classified as Muscular Dystrophy". Theflyer 14:15, 10 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Cushing's

Removed explicit mention of Cohn's syndrome as that's covered under adrenal tumors a few words later. Some cases of Cushing's syndrome (mostly ectopic ACTH-producing tumors) are thought to overwhelm the 11-β hydroxylase enzyme of the renal tubules. This gives an effect like glycyrrhizin and can cause hypokalemia. Dan Levy 19:08, 9 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

  • Rose, B.D. and T.W. Post, Clinical Physiology of Acid-Base and Electrolyte Disorders, 5th ed. 2001, pages 836-887. ISBN 0-07-134682-1

Hair Loss

Does potassium deficiency cause hair loss. I am going through chemo which shouldn't be causing hair loss, but am losing some, not all. Thought maybe due to my postassium deficiency?

No relationship between the two. I'll elaborate more on the TALK page for 72.47.38.162 Dan Levy 21:17, 15 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]
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