Heparin-induced hyperkalemia: report of a case

A 77-year-old diabetic man with a creatinine clearance of 23--27 ml/min developed hyperkalemia while receiving heparin for peripheral arterial insufficiency. Discontinuation of this agent led to resolution of hyperkalemia as the plasma aldosterone concentration multiplied by sixfold. Renal insufficiency may have predisposed this patient to the development of hyperkalemia when heparin therapy suppressed aldosterone synthesis.