Hyperkalemia commonly occurs to patients with renal insufficiency, and especially to patients who suffer from Anuria or oliguria. Hyperkalemia describe the situation when blood potassium level surpass 5.5mmol/L. Hyperkalemia commonly give rise to diseases of the nerves , the heart, and the muscle.
Anoria or oliguria lessen the excretion of potassium and lead to the increase of blood potassium level. Adrenal cortex dysfunction or insufficiency secretion of renin caused by long-term usage of diuretic lesson the secretion of aldosterone which helps with the retention of sodium and excretion of potassium.
Potassium is excreted out of the body mainly through the kidneys. And decline in renal function can easily lead to retention of potassium in the blood. Anuria or oliguria commonly occur in patients with acute renal failure, and especially when Anuria occurs, blood potassium level could increase at a rate of 0.7mmol/L per day. With patients with chronic renal failure, the progressive increase of blood potassium is seldom, however, when disease develops into late stage renal failure, oliguria can easily lead to blood potassium level increase.
Aldosterone helps with retaining sodium and excreting potassium, and this effect is achieved through adjusting the reabsorption ability of renal far tubules. Addison Disease indicates the declining renin secretion ability of adrenal cortex. Insufficiency secretion of renin can be caused by the usage of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor. Low aldosterone caused by renin insufficiency commonly occurs to patients with unserious renal failure or to diabetics with renal failure.
Intracellular fluid contains approximately 30 times more potassium then that of extracellular fluid. And consecutive energy supplication guarantees the concentration difference of potassium. However, oxygen insufficiency, dysfunction of acid-base balance as well as other factor can easily give rise to insufficient energy providing to cells, which enhance cellular catabolism. Massive cell loss or getting injured, or academia can lead to the escape of potassium from intracellular fluid to extracellular fluid. So, blood potassium level will consequently be increased. Massive red cells breading down can be caused by various factors like sunstroke lead to the spreading of intracellular potassium into the blood.
