Wadstein J, Skude G
Lancet. 1978 Sep 9;2(8089):549-50. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(78)92883-0.
Serum-potassium was determined daily in 37 chronic alcoholics when alcohol was withdrawn on admission to hospital. Serum-potassium was normal in all patients at admission but in 26 patients in whom delirium tremens developed a contiuing decrease in serum-potassium led to hypokalaemia, (mean 2.9 mmol/l) when delirium tremens started. At the end of the attack serum-potassium rapidly returned to normal. The change in serum-potassium was not associated with any variation in serum electrolytes or acidbase balance. In the 11 patients in whom delirium tremens did not develop serum-potassium concentration remained unchanged.
37名慢性酒精中毒患者入院戒酒时每天测定血清钾。所有患者入院时血清钾均正常，但26名发生震颤谵妄的患者在震颤谵妄开始时血清钾持续下降导致低钾血症（平均2.9mmol/L）。发作结束时血清钾迅速恢复正常。血清钾的变化与血清电解质或酸碱平衡的任何变化均无关。在11名未发生震颤谵妄的患者中，血清钾浓度保持不变。
