Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Voltage-Dependent Potassium Current Recording on H9c2 Cardiomyocytes via the Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Technique
08:11

Voltage-Dependent Potassium Current Recording on H9c2 Cardiomyocytes via the Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Technique

Published on: November 11, 2022

Hyperkalaemic cardiac arrhythmia due to prolonged ingestion of potassium citrate

Kristopher S Lyons, Paul McGlinchey

    International Journal of Cardiology
    |October 24, 2007
    PubMed

    Insights

    A woman experienced a pre-syncopal episode due to severe hyperkalemia (high potassium) from potassium citrate supplements. Prompt treatment normalized her electrocardiogram (ECG) and potassium levels.

    Area of Science:

    • Cardiology
    • Nephrology
    • Clinical Toxicology

    Background:

    • Potassium citrate is commonly prescribed for kidney stones.
    • Unmonitored use can lead to severe adverse effects.
    • Hyperkalemia is a serious condition affecting cardiac function.

    Observation:

    • A 55-year-old woman presented with pre-syncope.
    • She had markedly abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) findings.
    • Serum potassium levels were critically elevated at 9.6 mmol/l.

    Findings:

    • The patient's hyperkalemia was caused by prolonged, unmonitored ingestion of potassium citrate.
    • ECG abnormalities resolved following treatment for hyperkalemia.
    • This case illustrates an unusual ECG presentation of hyperkalemia.

    Implications:

    • Highlights the risks of excessive potassium intake from supplements.
    • Emphasizes the need for careful monitoring of potassium levels during potassium citrate therapy.
    • Underscores the importance of recognizing diverse ECG manifestations of hyperkalemia.

    More Related Videos

    Making, Testing, and Using Potassium Ion Selective Microelectrodes in Tissue Slices of Adult Brain11:20

    Making, Testing, and Using Potassium Ion Selective Microelectrodes in Tissue Slices of Adult Brain

    Published on: May 7, 2018

    Related Concept Videos

    Antihypertensive Drugs: Potassium-Sparing Diuretics01:28

    Antihypertensive Drugs: Potassium-Sparing Diuretics

    Liddle syndrome is a genetically inherited form of hypertension characterized by the overactivity of epithelial sodium channels in the nephron, the functional unit of the kidney. This heightened activity leads to increased sodium reabsorption and excessive excretion of potassium. To counteract this, potassium-sparing diuretics such as amiloride are used. They function by blocking these sodium channels, thereby reducing the influx of sodium into the epithelial cells and minimizing the loss of...
    Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers01:12

    Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers

    Class III antiarrhythmic drugs are a group of medications that can prolong action potentials in the heart. They achieve this by blocking potassium channels or enhancing inward currents from sodium channels. However, these drugs have a unique property of "reverse use-dependence," which is most pronounced at slower heart rates and can lead to torsades de pointes—a specific type of arrhythmia. However, it is essential to note that excessive QT interval prolongation—a measure of the heart's...
    Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects01:21

    Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects

    Skeletal muscle relaxants are widely used for muscle paralysis and relieving pain following any muscle injury or stiffness. However, depending on the drug type, they can have adverse effects that range from mild to severe. Usually, nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers have minimal side effects. For example, drugs like d-tubocurarine, cisatracurium, and rocuronium cause hypotension, whereas drugs like baclofen, when stopped abruptly, can lead to the recurrence of spastic conditions.
    Unlike...
    Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias01:28

    Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias

    Arrhythmias are irregular heart rhythms occurring when the heart's electrical impulses become abnormal. These disturbances can lead to various symptoms, depending on their severity and the underlying cause. Some common factors contributing to arrhythmias include hypoxia, ischemia, electrolyte imbalances, excessive catecholamine exposure, drug toxicity, and muscle overstretching. Arrhythmias can be classified into two main types based on the rate and site of origin of abnormal heart rhythms.
    Heart Failure Drugs: Inotropic Agents01:26

    Heart Failure Drugs: Inotropic Agents

    Positive inotropic agents are commonly used as the first line of treatment for heart failure. One such agent is digoxin, derived from the genus Digitalis, which has been known for centuries but effectively utilized since 1785. However, these cardiac glycosides can have potentially toxic effects due to their mechanism of action, which involves inhibiting Na+/K+-ATPase and increasing contractility. Digoxin is absorbed orally and distributed in various tissues, including the CNS. It has a long...
    Diabetic Ketoacidosis ll: Pathophysiology01:22

    Diabetic Ketoacidosis ll: Pathophysiology

    Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a metabolic emergency characterized by hyperglycemia, ketonemia, and metabolic acidosis. It results from severe insulin deficiency and an excess of counterregulatory hormones, leading to uncontrolled lipolysis, ketogenesis, and widespread electrolyte and fluid disturbances.Pathophysiology The central event in DKA is a profound loss of insulin action. Without insulin, glucose uptake in insulin-dependent tissues is impaired, while hepatic glucose production...