Electrolytes and whole body potassium in acute leukemia

In a consecutive series of 22 patients with acute leukemia, the total body potassium was studied in 18 patients on 39 occasions during relapse and remission. Total body water was also determined. A control group consisting of 88 age-matched healthy volunteers was also studied. The patients had a significantly lower mean potassium concentration, per kg body weight, per kg lean body mass and per kg water, than the controls (p less than 0.001). Individually, 11 out of the 18 patients had at least one value below the lower 95% confidence limit. Hypokalemia was frequent both in the patients with low (7/11) and normal (3/6) potassium per kg lean body mass. Five of 13 investigated patients showed laboratory indications of secondary hyperaldosteronism, which might be partly responsible for the hypokalemia. Increased serum or urine levels of lysozyme were found in 62% of the patients.