[Heparin-induced hyperkalaemia - a case report]

Heparins are drugs commonly used in the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic complications. It is also common to be aware of the complications of their use, such as increased risk of bleeding or induction of throbocytopenia. However, it should not be forgotten that in about 7% of patients the use of heparins may lead to the significant hyperkalaemia.

The aim of this study was to draw attention to the rare, but potentially fatal complication of heparin treatment.

Here we present the case of the 85-year-old man with the several co-morbid conditions, who developed hyperkalaemia during hospitalization. Hyperkalaemia was resistant to typical conventional treatment. It occured that the reason for this complication was hypoaldosteronism caused by the use of low molecular weight heparin in the prophylactic dose. Kaliaemia normalization was achieved not until the fludrocortisone was used. Heparin induced hyperkalaemia occurs in about 7-8% treated patients. Therefore, it is not a rare complication, but given the prevalence of heparin use and the potential number of patients with this complication, it is rarely diagnosed. Potentially because hyperkalaemia is usually asymptomatic and because heparin treatment is usually temporal. The reported case of a patient with asymptomatic heparin induced hyperkalaemia proves that in everyday practice we may face this complication, and its diagnosis and proper treatment is possible only if we remember about this risk.