Hyperkalemia: diagnosis and treatment.

We have considered a differential diagnosis of clinical hyperkalemia. The clinical signs and symptoms of patients with hyperkalemia are manifold and can involve many organ systems. The nonoliguric chronic renal failure patient with hyporeninemia and hypoaldosteronemia may have as one of his principal problems recurrent hyperkalemia. Treatment of this condition includes well-known modalities such as administration of calcium salts, NaHCO3, removal of potassium with resin or dialysis as well as placement of a transvenous pacemaker in anticipation of bradyarrhythmias or asystole.