Severe Hyperkalemia in a Hematology–Oncology Patient

A 71-year old polymorbid man with a rapid progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia was admitted to the Department of Hemato-oncology to undergo cytoreduction therapy with chlorambucil and prednisone. Laboratory results are shown below. Of note, there was hyperkalemia of 7.0 mmol/L that further increased to 8.3 and 12.4 mmol/L 3 and 7 h later, respectively (see Table 1; lithium heparin plasma separated within 20 min of blood …