[Level of metabolizable potassium in heart failure]

The amount of metabolizing potassium in the body was determined by means of K-42 dilution in 20 normal individuals and in 108 patients with different degrees of cardiac failure and various severity of the oedema syndrome. The amount of metabolizing potassium was found to decrease gradually along with the increase of cardiac insufficiency. Both the absolute amount of the metabolically active fraction of potassium was decreasing, and the content of this cation per 1 kg of body weight. The decrease of the amount of metabolizing potassium in cases of severe circulatory insufficiency did not depend on the severity of the oedema syndrome. With the improvement of the state of the patient and the decrease of congestive manifestations the level of metabolizing potassium tended to rise. Nevertheless, some patients demonstrated a reduction of the metabolically active fraction of potassium. And, vice versa, along with a deterioration of the patient's state and an increase of cardiac insufficiency and elevation of potassium content in the body was sometimes noted.