[Renal potassium-loss syndrome as origin of extreme hypokalemia].

Case report on a 35-year-old female patient with life-threatening respiratory insufficiency in extreme hypopotassemia with unclear genesis. A simultaneously existing systemic acidosis and alkaline urine render a secondary tubular acidosis as a sequel of a symptom-poor chronic pyelonephritis probable. Ascertainment by ammonium chloride load. Discussion of the most essential causes of a hypotassemia and emphasizing of a consequent antibiotic sanation also of asymptomatic bacteriurias. It is referred to the necessity of a highly dosed long-term potassium substitution.