Addison's disease electrocardiogram
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Electrocardiogram
ECG changes in Addison's disease are rpimarily due to hyperkalemia caused by aldosterone hormone deficiency.
- With mild to moderate hyperkalemia, there is
- Severe hyperkalemia results in a
- Widening of the QRS complex
- The ECG complex can evolve to a sinusoidal shape.
Hyperkalemia causes an overall membrane depolarization that inactivates many sodium channels. The faster repolarization of the cardiac action potential causes the tenting of the T waves, and the inactivation of sodium channels causes a sluggish conduction of the electrical wave around the heart, which leads to smaller P waves and widening of the QRS complex.
The serum K+ concentration at which electrocardiographic changes develop is somewhat variable.[1][2]
References
- ↑ Wrenn, KD; Slovis, CM; Slovis, BS (1991). "The ability of physicians to predict hyperkalemia from the ECG". Annals of Emergency Medicine. 20 (11): 1229–32. doi:10.1016/S0196-0644(05)81476-3. PMID 1952310.
- ↑ Aslam, S; Friedman, EA; Ifudu, O (2002). "Electrocardiography is unreliable in detecting potentially lethal hyperkalaemia in haemodialysis patients". Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association. 17 (9): 1639–42. doi:10.1093/ndt/17.9.1639. PMID 12198216.