hypocalemia

Irrigants for whole gut irrigation nearly exclusively influence the fluid-, electrolyte- and acid-base-balance. Mannitol and sodium sulphate solutions have badly been tolerated and left a bowel full of gas and fluid. Mannitol showed only small changes in serum electrolytes. Sodium sulphate led to a marked hypocalemia. Mannitol plus electrolytes led to a gas-filled bowel. Ringer's lactate showed only small changes in serum electrolytes and a good compatibility. None of the investigated solutions were better than modified Hewitt's solution, so that we are doing our whole gut irrigations with this solution...

In recent years, data has become available to support the concept that a selective lengthening of the cardiac action potential (a Class III antiarrhythmic action) by whatever mechanism with an attendant increase in the effective refractory period constitutes a distinct antiarrhythmic mechanism. Such an action is exemplified clinically by hypocalemia and hypothyroidism and pharmacologically by amiodarone, sotalol and bretylium, all of which have other associated features. The N-acetylation of procainamide leads to the pharmacologically active compound, N-acetylprocainamide (NAPA)...

Six patients with symptomatic osseous Paget's disease were treated with a four-day course of mithramycin (25 mug/kg/day). The effects of treatment on the plasma calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, and the urinary fractional clearance of calcium and phosphorus were studied. Mithramycin produced significant hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia, and also significantly and simultaneously increased the plasma parathyroid hormone concentration. Despite the increase in parathyroid hormone, the hypocalemia persisted because of the probable blocking effect which mithramycin exerted on the osteoclasts...