Electrolytes and Whole Body Potassium in Acute Leukemia

Abstract

In a consecutive series of 22 patients with acute leukemia the total body K was studied in 18 patients on 39 occasions during relapse and remission. Total body water was determined. A control group consisting of 88 age-matched healthy volunteers was studied. The patients had a significantly lower mean K concentration per kg body wt, per kg lean body mass and per kg water than the controls (P < 0.001). Individually 11 of the 18 patients had at least 1 value below the lower 95% confidence limit. Hypokalemia was frequent in the patients with low (7/11) and normal (3/6) K per kg lean body mass. Of 13 investigated patients showed laboratory indications of secondary hyperaldosteronism, which might be partly responsible for the hypokalemia. Increased serum or urine levels of lysozyme were found in 62% of the patients.