ELECTROLYTES IN HUMAN TISSUE. III. A COMPARISON OF NORMAL HEARTS WITH HEARTS SHOWING CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE 1

Abstract

The right and left ventricles from 17 autopsies were analyzed for H2O, P, Na, K, Mg and Ca. The H2O was increased and the total P, Mg and K was decreased in both ventricles following death from congestive heart failure. In both normal and diseased hearts the left ventricle contained more K, total P and Mg and less Na than the right. The sums of total base, in milli equivalents per kgm. of tissue HsO, are essentially the same in the two ventricles. In disease the K/Na ratio decreases while the P/K remains constant.