DIURETICS, SERUM AND INTRACELLULAR ELECTROLYTE LEVELS, AND VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS IN HYPERTENSIVE MEN

Objective. - To investigate the patterns of electrlyte abnormalities resulting from thiazide administration and whether they cause ventricular arrhythmias, and to help resolve the controversy over whether clinicians should routinely prescribe potassium-conserving therapy to all patients treated with thiazides. Design. - Double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Participants. - A total of 233 hypertensive men aged 35 to 70 years. Interventions. - Participants were withdrawn from prior diuretic treatment and were replenished with oral potassium chloride and magnesium oxide. They were then randomized to 2 months of treatment with (1) hydrochlorothiazide; (2) hydrochlorothiazide with oral potassium; (3) hydrochlorothiazide with oral potassium and magnesium; (4) hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene; (5) chlorthalidone; or (6) placebo. Main Outcome Measures. - Ventricular arrhythmias on 24-hour Holter monitoring and serum and intracellular potassium and magnesium levels. Results. - Of the 233 participants, 212 (91%) completed the study. Serum potassium levels were 0.4 mmol/L lower in the hydrochlorothiazide group than in the placebo group (P < .01), and this mean difference was not affected by supplementation with potassium, with potassium and magnesium, or with triamterene. However, the supplements did prevent the occasional occurrence of marked hypokalemia; all 12 of the men who developed serum potassium levels of 3.0 mmol/L or less were among the 90 who received diuretics without supplementation (P < .01). Similarly, the overall proportion of men with ventricular arrhythmias was not affected by randomized treatment, but there was a twofold increase in the proportion with arrhythmias among the 12 men with serum potassium levels of 3.0 mmol/L or less (P = .02). Serum magnesium and intracellular potassium and magnesium levels were not reduced by hydrochlorothiazide, nor were they related to ventricular arrhythmias. Conclusions. - In the majority of hypertensive patients, treatment with 50 mg/d of hydrochlorothiazide does not cause marked hypokalemia or ventricular arrhythmias. However, because some individuals will develop hypokalemia after starting diuretic therapy, serum potassium levels should be monitored and potassium-sparing strategies should be used when indicated.