Effect of long-term diuretic treatment on body-potassium in heart-disease

Plasma and total body potassium have been measured in 151 patients with chronic heart-disease, 83 of whom were taking diuretics and potassium supplements. After allowance for age and body-size, the deficit in total body-potassium was only 3-5% (100-150 mmol) in the diuretic group. 13 of the 83 patients taking diuretic had hypokalaemia (less than 3-5 mmol/1) but the potassium deficit was no greater than in the patients with normal plasma-potassium. There was no relation between the dose of potassium supplements and either the plasma-potassium or the total body-potasium. It is suggested that potassium depletion is not a major problem in patients with heart-failure treated with diuretics. The dose of potassium supplements should therefore be determined entirely by the plasma-potassium.