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[Prevalence of hypokalemia in patients with methylprednisolone pulse therapy]
Héctor Eloy Tamez-Pérez1, Vicente Cisneros-Pérez, Javier Armando Cedillo-Rodríguez
1División de Medicina Interna, Hospital de Especialidades No. 25, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social de Monterrey. hectoreloytamez@aol.com
Objective:
To determine the prevalence of hypokalemia in patients with methylprednisolone pulse therapy.
Design:
We carried out a descriptive, cross-sectional study.
Material And Methods:
We enrolled 110 outpatients who received pulse doses of 1 g of intravenous methylprednisolone for three consecutive days. Demographic variables, serum electrolytes and an electrocardiogram were documented.
Results:
The study group consisted of 31 men (28.2%) and 79 women (71.8%). Average age was 40 +/- 13.6 years. Mild hypokalemia was present in 19 patients (17.27% [95% CI 9.75-24.79]); moderate potassium levels were found in just one patient 0.9% [IC 95 0.023-4.96]); no cases of severe hypokalemia occurred. Total prevalence was 18.18% (95% CI 10.5-25.8). There were no significant electrocardiographic changes.
Discussion And Conclusion:
Mild and moderate hypokalemia was 18.18% without clinical or electrocardiographic consequences. Since there were no cases of severe hypokalemia, close monitoring of potassium levels should be restricted to those patients with other risk factors.
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