Management of hyperkalemia: strategic clinical actions in real-world practice

This article is part of a review series on water and electrolyte disorders, based on the annual "Electrolyte Winter Seminar" for early-career nephrologists in Japan. The seminar features interactive case-based discussions, some of which are included as self-assessment questions. The fifth installment addresses the management of hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia frequently occurs in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and can become life-threatening when severe, necessitating prompt treatment regardless of its underlying cause. Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi) are a recognized risk factor for hyperkalemia in CKD; however, discontinuing RASi in response to elevated potassium levels may adversely affect patient outcomes. Although there are no formal criteria distinguishing acute from chronic hyperkalemia, symptoms presentation and potassium levels offer a practical guide for clinical management. This review covers standard treatment strategies for severe (symptomatic or acute) hyperkalemia in emergency and inpatient settings and discusses how to manage mild-to-moderate (asymptomatic or chronic) cases in CKD patients while continuing RASi therapy.