SERUM POTASSIUM IN LACTIC-ACIDOSIS AND KETOACIDOSIS

METABOLIC acidosis has been thought to elevate serum potassium concentration.1,2 However, hyperkalemia was not found in recent studies in patients with postictal lactic acidosis3 or in dogs infused with lactic acid4,5 or 3-hydroxybutyric acid5 — observations that raise questions about the association between metabolic acidosis and hyperkalemia: Does metabolic acidosis cause hyperkalemia or is the latter an epiphenomenon? Does metabolic acidosis (or acidemia) cause hyperkalemia only when acidosis is due to excess “mineral acids,” and not to excess organic acids? With the hope of providing some clarification of these questions, I have reviewed initial laboratory data and clinical findings in. © 1979, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.