The Electrocardiogram and Disturbance of Potassium Metabolism

Abstract

A SIZABLE literature demonstrating electrocardiographic abnormalities in various disorders of potassium metabolism has developed in the last ten years. The earlier observations suggested a correlation between serum potassium levels and electrocardiographic changes.^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12} As we have observed more cases, however, it has become apparent that electrocardiographic findings and serum potassium concentrations do not always correlate.¹³ Since potassium is primarily an intracellular ion and presumably exerts its major physiologic effects within cells, a lack of correlation might be anticipated.The question then arises whether intracellular fluid potassium concentrations correlate better than concentrations in serum with the alterations of the electrocardiogram in patients . . .