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Renal system
Metabolic acidosis
Metabolic alkalosis
Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis
Acute tubular necrosis
Postrenal azotemia
Prerenal azotemia
Renal azotemia
Horseshoe kidney
Potter sequence
Renal agenesis
Hypercalcemia
Hyperkalemia
Hypermagnesemia
Hypernatremia
Hyperphosphatemia
Hypocalcemia
Hypokalemia
Hypomagnesemia
Hyponatremia
Hypophosphatemia
Hydronephrosis
Kidney stones
Renal cortical necrosis
Renal papillary necrosis
Alport syndrome
Goodpasture syndrome
IgA nephropathy (NORD)
Lupus nephritis
Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis
Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis
Amyloidosis
Diabetic nephropathy
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (NORD)
Lupus nephritis
Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis
Membranous nephropathy
Minimal change disease
Acute pyelonephritis
Chronic pyelonephritis
Medullary cystic kidney disease
Medullary sponge kidney
Multicystic dysplastic kidney
Polycystic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease
Renal tubular acidosis
Angiomyolipoma
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
Nephroblastoma (Wilms tumor)
Renal cell carcinoma
WAGR syndrome
Renal artery stenosis
Acid-base disturbances: Pathology review
Congenital renal disorders: Pathology review
Electrolyte disturbances: Pathology review
Kidney stones: Pathology review
Nephritic syndromes: Pathology review
Nephrotic syndromes: Pathology review
Renal and urinary tract masses: Pathology review
Renal failure: Pathology review
Renal tubular acidosis: Pathology review
Renal tubular defects: Pathology review
Urinary incontinence: Pathology review
Urinary tract infections: Pathology review
Hyperkalemia
0 / 14 complete
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hyperkalemia with p. 614
hyperkalemia p. 614
hyperkalemia and p. 614
hyperkalemia p. 614
aldosterone in p. 612
aliskiren p. 634
angiotensin II receptor blockers p. 634
cardiac glycosides p. NaN
causes of p. 614
diabetic ketoacidosis p. 357
potassium-sparing diuretics p. 633
primary adrenal insufficiency p. 355
renal failure p. 627
hyperkalemia with p. 614
hyperkalemia p. 614
With hyperkalemia, hyper- means over and -kal- refers to potassium, and -emia refers to the blood, so hyperkalemia means higher than normal potassium levels in the blood, generally over 5.5 mEq/L.
Now, total body potassium can essentially be split into two components—intracellular and extracellular potassium, or potassium inside and outside cells, respectively.
The extracellular component includes both the intravascular space, which is the space within the blood and lymphatic vessels and the interstitial space, the space between cells where you typically find fibrous proteins and long chains of carbohydrates which are called glycosaminoglycans.
Now, the vast majority, around 98%, of all of the body’s potassium is intracellular, or inside of the cells.
In fact, the concentration of potassium inside the cells is about 150 mEq/L whereas outside the cells it’s only about 4.5 mEq/L.
Keep in mind that these potassium ions carry a charge, so the difference in concentration also leads to a difference in charge, which establishes an overall electrochemical gradient across the cell membrane. This is called the internal potassium balance.
This balance is maintained by the sodium-potassium pump, which pumps 2 potassium ions in for every 3 sodium ions out, as well as potassium leak channels and inward rectifier channels that are scattered throughout the membrane.
This concentration gradient is extremely important for setting the resting membrane potential of excitable cell membranes, which is needed for normal contraction of smooth, cardiac, and skeletal muscle.
Also, though, in addition to this internal potassium balance, there’s also an external potassium balance, which refers to the potassium you get externally through the diet every day.
On a daily basis the amount of potassium that typically gets taken in usually ranges between 50 mEq/L to 150 mEq/L, which is way higher than the extracellular potassium concentration of 4.5 mEq/L, so your body has to figure out a way to excrete most of what it takes in.
This external balancing act is largely taken care of by the kidneys, where excess potassium is secreted into a renal tubule and excreted in the urine.
Also though, a small amount dietary potassium is also lost via the gastrointestinal tract and sweat.
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