Decrease in Serum Potassium Concentrations and Appearance of Cardiac Arrhythmias during Infusion of Potassium with Glucose in Potassium-Depleted Patients

THE intravenous administration of potassium chloride with glucose is a common therapeutic measure in cases of potassium depletion. This study was prompted by the appearance of serious ventricular arrhythmias in 2 hypopotassemic patients during the intravenous infusion of a solution of potassium chloride with glucose. It was suspected that the cellular uptake of glucose stimulated cellular uptake of potassium in excess of that administered. This critically altered the potassium gradient across myocardial cell membranes, precipitating grave manifestations of cardiotoxicity. In both cases the serum potassium concentration at the time of appearance of the arrhythmias might have been lower than the . . .