Excessive Total Body Potassium in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure

Abstract

In a study of potassium metabolism in patients with advanced chronic renal failure, total body potassium was measured in 36 non-dialysed patients using the Merlin mobile whole-body monitor. These values were compared with the expected ‘normal’ values as estimated from known regression relationships of total body potassium on height and age and on height, weight and age. Five of the 36 patients had measured total body potassiums significantly greater than expected. A clinical condition in which excessive total body potassium exists does not appear to have been previously reported.