Pro-arrhythmic effects of low plasma [K+] in human ventricle: An illustrated review

Potassium levels in the plasma, [K+]o, are regulated precisely under physiological conditions. However, increases (from approx. 4.5 to 8.0mM) can occur as a consequence of, e.g., endurance exercise, ischemic insult or kidney failure. This hyperkalemic modulation of ventricular electrophysiology has been studied extensively. Hypokalemia is also common. It can occur in response to diuretic therapy, following renal dialysis, or during recovery from endurance exercise. In the human ventricle, clinical hypokalemia (e.g., [K+]o levels of approx.

Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - November 23, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Beatriz Trenor, Karen Cardona, Lucia Romero, Juan F. Gomez, Javier Saiz, Sridharan Rajamani, Luiz Belardinelli, Wayne Giles Source Type: research