Correlation of Iatrogenic mild hyperkalaemia and bradyarrhythmia: a problem of polypharmacy in elderly
Mild hyperkalaemia does not typically cause cardiac symptoms. However, for an elderly patient on atrio-ventricular (AV) nodal blocker, even mild hyperkalaemia may result in disastrous outcome. We report a case of persistent bradyarrythmia caused by iatrogenic hyperkalaemia in a patient who had conco...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2017
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/12694/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/12694/1/17_ahmad_et_al_pdf_18766.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848813071847391232 |
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| author | Ahmad NH, Tan, Toh Leong |
| author_facet | Ahmad NH, Tan, Toh Leong |
| author_sort | Ahmad NH, |
| building | UKM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Mild hyperkalaemia does not typically cause cardiac symptoms. However, for an elderly patient on atrio-ventricular (AV) nodal blocker, even mild hyperkalaemia may result in disastrous outcome. We report a case of persistent bradyarrythmia caused by iatrogenic hyperkalaemia in a patient who had concomitant use of AV nodal medication. An 81-year-old lady with multiple comorbidities and a long list of medications presented with symptomatic bradyarrhythmia. She, in fact, had two AV nodal blockers in her prescription, a beta-blocker and amiodarone. Her potassium level was found to be mildly elevated due to acute renal failure. She remained bradycardic despite initial treatment and was subsequently dependant on intravenous isoproterenol until her renal function improved. This case highlights the different threshold for manifestation of hyperkalaemic symptoms in a growing group of patients: elderly patients with multiple comorbidities and polypharmacy. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T00:12:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | oai:generic.eprints.org:12694 |
| institution | Universiti Kebangasaan Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T00:12:22Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia |
| recordtype | eprints |
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| spelling | oai:generic.eprints.org:126942019-03-17T12:18:10Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/12694/ Correlation of Iatrogenic mild hyperkalaemia and bradyarrhythmia: a problem of polypharmacy in elderly Ahmad NH, Tan, Toh Leong Mild hyperkalaemia does not typically cause cardiac symptoms. However, for an elderly patient on atrio-ventricular (AV) nodal blocker, even mild hyperkalaemia may result in disastrous outcome. We report a case of persistent bradyarrythmia caused by iatrogenic hyperkalaemia in a patient who had concomitant use of AV nodal medication. An 81-year-old lady with multiple comorbidities and a long list of medications presented with symptomatic bradyarrhythmia. She, in fact, had two AV nodal blockers in her prescription, a beta-blocker and amiodarone. Her potassium level was found to be mildly elevated due to acute renal failure. She remained bradycardic despite initial treatment and was subsequently dependant on intravenous isoproterenol until her renal function improved. This case highlights the different threshold for manifestation of hyperkalaemic symptoms in a growing group of patients: elderly patients with multiple comorbidities and polypharmacy. Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2017 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/12694/1/17_ahmad_et_al_pdf_18766.pdf Ahmad NH, and Tan, Toh Leong (2017) Correlation of Iatrogenic mild hyperkalaemia and bradyarrhythmia: a problem of polypharmacy in elderly. Medicine & Health, 12 (2). pp. 329-334. ISSN 2289-5728 http://www.medicineandhealthukm.com/toc/12/2 |
| spellingShingle | Ahmad NH, Tan, Toh Leong Correlation of Iatrogenic mild hyperkalaemia and bradyarrhythmia: a problem of polypharmacy in elderly |
| title | Correlation of Iatrogenic mild hyperkalaemia and bradyarrhythmia: a problem of polypharmacy in elderly |
| title_full | Correlation of Iatrogenic mild hyperkalaemia and bradyarrhythmia: a problem of polypharmacy in elderly |
| title_fullStr | Correlation of Iatrogenic mild hyperkalaemia and bradyarrhythmia: a problem of polypharmacy in elderly |
| title_full_unstemmed | Correlation of Iatrogenic mild hyperkalaemia and bradyarrhythmia: a problem of polypharmacy in elderly |
| title_short | Correlation of Iatrogenic mild hyperkalaemia and bradyarrhythmia: a problem of polypharmacy in elderly |
| title_sort | correlation of iatrogenic mild hyperkalaemia and bradyarrhythmia: a problem of polypharmacy in elderly |
| url | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/12694/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/12694/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/12694/1/17_ahmad_et_al_pdf_18766.pdf |