Electrolytes and Cardiovascular Diseases: Physiology, Pathology, Therapy, vol 2: Clinical Aspects

Abstract

The second volume of this symposium on the role of electrolytes in cardiovascular disease consists of clinical studies contributed by an international group of investigators. While the communications are intended to provide current reviews, the defects of multiple-authorship texts are apparent—frequent repetition of historical and basic data. There is, however, a more distressing feature of this volume. In the editorial foreword, Dr. Bajusz notes, I often encouraged the contributors to present not merely plain facts, but also to freely express views and to formulate working hypotheses. This may be a salutary approach if utilized as a basis for a thought-provoking dialogue among research units, but it presents serious dangers if these views are presented as recommendations for wide-spread clinical application. Approximately 50% of the contributions concern potassium therapy for the treatment of a variety of cardiologic abnormalities. Many of these studies present the results obtained by the administration of a