Total Exchangeable Potassium in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Reference to “Triamcinolone Myopathy”. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Total exchangeable potassium, using K⁴², was determined in a group of female control subjects and 2 groups of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. One of these groups was receiving adrenal cortical steroids including triamcinolone, the other salicylates and antimalarials only. Serial determinations were also done on one patient receiving long term steroid therapy. No significant differences in total exchangeable potassium values could be demonstrated among the 3 groups, and steroid therapy, including triamcinolone, did not appear to have an effect on total exchangeable potassium.

The authors are indebted to Juanita Lestina and Marva Jenkins for their technical assistance.