Elevated serum Potassium

["LYNN M. Crespo" <lynn@hpd.acast.nova.edu>]

Looking at the blood work it does seem odd that potassium is so elevated.
That level of potassium is usually considered life threatening due to its
effects on electrical activity of the heart and nervous system.  I suspect
there may be something else occuring in the blood collection process.

A good question to ask is how long after drawing the blood was it
centrifuged to separate the red blood cells from the plasma.  If there was
a long delay the cells in the blood will start to lyse (break apart) and
release their contents into the serum.  Cells are loaded up with
potassium, so if they break down they dump LOTS of potassium into the
serum.  This is probably what is occuring.

Just to be safe, it would be important to know if the collection process
is the reason.  There are many other causes of hyperkalemia besides the
most common one your vet listed...you really want to be sure.  The
following list is not even complete, and bear in mind these diseases are
relatively rare:

1.  Hemolytic anemia
2.  Renal failure (even in early stages)
3.  Endocrine (adrenocortical insufficiency)
4.  Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs *Bute* - Check this one!
5.  Interstitial nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys)
6.  Certain malignancies
7.  Excessive intake - Possibly

Just posing a few more questions to ask!

Lynn


L. M. Crespo, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Pharmacology
Nova-Southeastern University
lynn@hpd.acast.nova.edu