The patient has hyperkalemia requiring a conservative management

The patient does not have a life threatening hyperkalemia, and can be managed conservatively as follows

Stop any medication that can cause or worsen hyperkalemia.

• Amiloride
• ACEI
• Amino acids
• ARB
• Azole
• Cyclosporine
• Digoxin
• Heparin
• NSAID
• Spironolactone
• Succinylcholine
• Tacrolimus
• Triamterene
• Trimethoprim
• Pentamidine

Search for a possible etiology.

Life-Threatening Causes

Life-threatening causes include conditions which result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.

• Acute renal failure
• Adrenal insufficiency
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Large IV doses of calcium chloride or calcium gluconate
• Massive hemolysis
• Metabolic acidosis
• Rapid tissue necrosis
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Tumor lysis syndrome

Common Causes

• Pseudohyperkalemia
• Renal insufficiency
• Adrenal insufficiency
• Medications: ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, amiloride, spironolactone, NSAIDS, ciclosporin, tacrolimus, trimethoprim, pentamidine, succinylcholine
• Renal tubular acidosis type 4
• Iatrogenic
• Diabetic ketoacidosis