Case report: severe hyperkalemia in a geriatric patient receiving standard doses of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. 1996

E P Perlmutter, and D Sweeney, and G Herskovits, and M Kleiner
Nephrology Division, Department of Medicine, Staten Island University Hospital, New York, USA.

A case is reported of a 96-year-old woman with congestive heart failure, hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who presented with altered mental status and severe hyperkalemia, a serum potassium 9.3 meq/L, and electrocardiograph changes. The patient was discharged 1 week prior, with a normal serum potassium, receiving trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for urinary tract infection and pneumonia. Serum potassium measurements returned to normal after discontinuation of the drug. Other causes of hyperkalemia were ruled out. Mild hyperkalemia due to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was first reported in 1983 in a 69-year-old woman in whom leukemia with leukopenia developed. In literature to date, mild hyperkalemia in younger geriatric patients has been described. Trimethoprim is thought to act by inhibiting amiloride sensitive sodium channels in the distal nephron and impairing renal potassium secretion in a dose dependent manner. The authors report the case, review the literature, and discuss age-related reduction in renal function as a possible etiology.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006947 Hyperkalemia Abnormally high potassium concentration in the blood, most often due to defective renal excretion. It is characterized clinically by electrocardiographic abnormalities (elevated T waves and depressed P waves, and eventually by atrial asystole). In severe cases, weakness and flaccid paralysis may occur. (Dorland, 27th ed) Hyperpotassemia,Hyperkalemias,Hyperpotassemias
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D015662 Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination A drug combination with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. It is effective in the treatment of many infections, including PNEUMOCYSTIS PNEUMONIA in AIDS. Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Combination,Abactrim,Bactifor,Bactrim,Biseptol,Biseptol-480,Centran,Centrin,Co-Trimoxazole,Cotrimoxazole,Drylin,Eslectin,Eusaprim,Insozalin,Kepinol,Kepinol Forte,Lescot,Metomide,Oriprim,Septra,Septrin,Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim Combination,Sulprim,Sumetrolim,TMP SMX,TMP-SMX,Trimedin,Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole,Trimethoprimsulfa,Trimezole,Trimosulfa,Biseptol 480,Biseptol480,Co Trimoxazole,Sulfamethoxazole Trimethoprim Combination,Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole,Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole Combination

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