[Acute myelogenous leukemia with hyperkalemia induced by pentamidine administration]

A 27-year-old male with acute myelogenous leukemia received an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT). Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia developed on day 65 after the allo-BMT. The patient was intravenously treated with pentamidine. This resulted in a prompt improvement of his dyspnea and fever, but hyperkalemia occurred during the pentamidine therapy. Treatment with pentamidine was stopped and emergent treatment was started. Nevertheless, the serum potassium level rose to 7.7 mEq/l. Urgent dialysis was performed and the serum potassium level fell to 5.0 mEq/l after treatment. Careful monitoring of the serum potassium level is recommended during intravenous therapy with pentamidine.