OBSERVATIONS ON THE EARLY ELEVATION OF SERUM POTASSIUM DURING RESPIRATORY ALKALOSIS 1

Abstract

In normal subjects acute respiratory alkalosis induced by hyperventilation causes a transitory hyperkalemia. In 13 subjects the mean increase in arterial serum K was 1.2 meq/l after 2 minutes of hyperventilation. During early respiratory alkalosis K is added to the circulating blood in the splanchnic region. During early respiratory alkalosis there is a small increase in whole blood buffer base.