Hyponatraemia has been described in beer drinkers and hypokalaemia resulting from increased levels of aldosterone is well recognised in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. We have encountered episodes of hypokalaemia in alcoholics accompanied by normal or increased serum concentrations of sodium. Despite a resemblance to syndromes of mineralocorticoid excess, increased levels of aldosterone and other mineralocorticoids were not found.
DemanetJCBonnynsMBleibergHStevens-RocmansC.Coma due to water intoxication in beer drinkers. Lancet1971; ii: 1115–1117.
2.
HildenTSvendsonTL. Electrolyte disturbances in beer drinkers; a specific hypo-osmolality syndrome. Lancet1975; ii: 245–246.
3.
WolffHPBetteLBlaiseH,. Role of aldosterone in edema formation. Ann NY Acad Sci1966; 139: 285–294.
4.
HaywoodJKHarrisIBoddyKWilliamsED. A two-way scanning method for total body in vivo neutron activation analysis. Phys Med Biol1978; 23: 865–875.
5.
MillarJALeckieBJMortonJJJordanJTreeM.A microassay for active and total renin concentration in human plasma based on antibody trapping. Clin Chim Acta1980; 101: 5–15.
6.
DusterdieckGMcElweeG.Estimation of angiotensin II concentrations in human plasma by radioimmunoassay. Some applications to physiological and clinical states. Eur J Clin Invest1971; 2: 32–38.
7.
ShackletonCHLHonourJW. Simultaneous estimation of urinary steroids by semi-automated gas chromatography. Investigation of neonatal infants and children with abnormal steroid synthesis. Clin Chim Acta1976; 69; 267–283.
8.
BlackDACMilneMD. Experimental potassium depletion in man. Clin Sci1952; 11: 397–415.
9.
SquiresRDHuthEJ. Experimental potassium depletion in normal human subjects. 1. Relation of ionic intakes to the renal conservation of potassium. J. Clin Invest1959; 38: 1134–1138.
10.
LevyLJDugaJGingisMGordonEE. Ketoacidosis associated with alcoholism in non-diabetic subjects. Ann Int Med1973; 78: 213–219.
11.
FulopM.Serum potassium in lactic acidosis and ketoacidosis. N Engl J Med1979; 300: 1087–1089.
12.
FlinkEBStutzmanFLAndersonAR,. Magnesium deficiency after prolonged parental fluid administration and after chronic alcoholism. J Lab Clin Med1954; 43169–183.
13.
LimPJacobE.Magnesium status of alcoholic patients. Metabolism1972; 21: 1045–1051.
14.
WhangRFlinkEBDycknerTWesterPOAigawaJKRyanMP. Magnesium depletion as a cause of refractory potassium depletion. Ann Int Med1985; 145: 1686–1689.
15.
KnochelJP. The pathophysiology and clinical characteristics of severe hypophosphataemia. Arch Int Med1977; 137: 203–220.
16.
VetterWRCohnLHReichgottJ.Hypokalaemia and electrocardiographic abnormalities during acute alcohol withdrawal. Arch Int. Med1967; 120: 536–541.
ManhemPNilsonLHMobergALWadsteinJHokfeltB.Hypokalaemia in alcohol withdrawal caused by high circulating adrenaline levels. Lancet1984; i: 679 (letter).
19.
Dimartino-NardiJStonerEMartinKBulfeJWJosePANewMI. New findings in apparent mineralocorticoid excess. Clin Endocrinol1987; 27: 49–62.
20.
StewartPMWallaceMValentinoRBurtDShackletonCHLEdwardsCRW. The mineralocortocoid activity of liquorice; 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase comes of age. Lancet1987; ii: 821–823.
21.
BoydenTWPamenterRW. Effects of ethanol on the male hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Endocrine Reviews1983; 4: 389–404.
22.
KapcalaLP. Alcohol-induced pseudo-Cushing's syndrome mimicking Cushing's disease in a patient with an adrenal mass. Am J Med1987; 82: 849–856.
23.
EisenhoferGJohnsonRH. Effect of ethanol ingestion on plasma vasopressin and water balance in humans. Am J Physiol1982; 242: R522–R527.
24.
EmsleyRAPotgieterATaljaardJJFCoetzeeDJoubertsGGledhillRF. Impaired water excretion and elevated plasma vasopressin in patients with alcohol-withdrawal symptoms. Q J Med1987; 64: 671–678.
25.
OgataMMendelsonJHMelloNK. Electrolytes and osmolality in alcoholics during experimentally induced intoxication. Psychosom Med1968; 30: 463–488.
26.
LinkolaJYlikahriRFyhrquirstFWalleniusM.Plasma vasopressin in ethanol intoxication and hangover. Acta Physiol Scand1978; 104: 180–187.
27.
RoweJWSheltonRLHeldermanJHVestalRERobertsonGL. Influence of the emetic reflex on vasopressin release in man. Kidney Int1979; 16: 729–735.