Hyperkalemia: pathophysiology and management.

Huperkalemia, a potentially lethal electrolyte disturbance, is frequently encountered by the practicing physician. Multiple factors, including the level of renal function, acid base status, activity of the renin-angiotension-aldosterone system, and the availability of insulin, normally interact to control the serum potassium concentration. The author approaches hyperkalemia as an aberration of one or more of these controlling factors and discusses appropriate therapeutic modalities.