Effect of Potassium on the Ventricular Deflections of the Electrocardiogram in Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease.

Abstract

Many reports have been published concerning the effects of potassium on the electrocardiogram in various clinical states1-13 and in experimental animals.14-17 These have been concerned chiefly with its effect upon the T-wave. Relatively little attention has been devoted to its effect upon the QRS complex except in those cases in which toxic doses were given. Inspection of the published records, however, shows that in many instances a reduction in the size of the QRS deflections followed the administration of this drug. We refer particularly to instances in which potassium was given to patients with hypertensive heart disease. In the articles referred to the QRS changes were not mentioned in the texts or legends. In fact in some of these it was reported that no change in the form of these deflections took place.4, 13 In a previously reported study18 sodium restriction in hypertensive vascular disease was followed by retrogressive electrocardiographic changes unaccompanied by a significant change in blood p...