Causes of hypokalemia
Decrease intake
- Starvation, anorexia
Intracellular translocation
- Insulin (eg, treatment of DKA, refeeding syndrome)
- B-adrenergic activity
- Pharmacologic (eg, albuterol, dobutamine)
- Stress-induced (eg, alcohol withdrawal, acute MI)
- Alkalosis (respiratory or metabolic)
- Increased cell reproduction (eg, acute myeloid leukemia, GM-CSF)
Gastrointestinal loss
- Diarrhea, vomiting, hyperaldosteronism
Urinary loss
- Hyperaldosteronism, diuretics, RTA types 1 and 2
Sweat loss
- Extreme exercise in hot climate