THE CAUSE OF DEATH IN EXPERIMENTAL ANURIA 12

Abstract

The conc. of K in the blood serum increased regularly and progressively in animals rendered completely anuric. This increase results from the breakdown of the animal''s own tissues, together with the restricted ability of the organism to store K. Serum K increases in dogs rendered anuric by ureteral ligation or nephrectomy until cardiac arrest due to K poisoning occurs. Thus K poisoning is the usual effective cause of death in animals so treated. Dogs rendered anuric by mercuric chloride injs. usually die of some unknown cause before the conc. of K rises sufficiently to cause cardiac arrest. Elevation of serum K with consequent cardiac arrest is not the usual cause of death in patients with chronic nephritis and terminal uremia.