Case Reports1 January 1954POTASSIUM INTOXICATION PRESUMABLY DUE TO ACUTE FUNCTIONAL ADRENOCORTICAL INSUFFICIENCYJOHN H. FELTS JR., M.D.JOHN H. FELTS JR., M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-40-1-166 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe syndrome of potassium intoxication, well documented in chronic and acute renal disease1-4 and in untreated, adrenalectomized dogs,5-8 has rarely been recognized clinically in adrenal insufficiency. It has been suggested that death in Addison's disease may be related to such abnormalities in serum potassium concentration.5, 9 In this case the onset was typical of potassium intoxication; in view of the response to therapy and the subsequent course, it is presumed to be one of acute functional adrenocortical insufficiency.CASE REPORTA 42 year old white female was admitted to the hospital with the history of recurrent episodes of chills, fever,...Bibliography1. FinchSawyerFlynn CACGJM: Clinical syndrome of potassium intoxication, Am. J. Med. 1: 337, 1946. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. MerrillLevineSomervilleSmith JPHDWS: Clinical recognition and treatment of acute potassium intoxication, Ann. Int. Med. 33: 797, 1950. LinkGoogle Scholar3. Tarail R: Relation of abnormalities in concentration of serum potassium to electrocardiographic disturbances, Am. J. Med. 5: 828, 1948. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. LevineMerrillSomerville HDJPW: Advanced disturbances of the cardiac mechanism in potassium intoxication in man, Circulation 3: 889, 1951. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. HastingsCompere ABEL: Effect of bilateral suprarenalectomy on certain constituents of the blood of dogs, Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol. and Med. 28: 376, 1930-31. CrossrefGoogle Scholar6. WinklerSmithHoff AWPKHE: Spontaneous potassium poisoning in the adrenalectomized animal, Federation Proc. 1: 94, 1942. Google Scholar7. HallCleghorn GERA: Cardiac lesions in adrenal insufficiency, Canad. M. A. J. 39: 126, 1938. MedlineGoogle Scholar8. NicholsonSoffer WMLJ: Cardiac arrhythmia in experimental suprarenal insufficiency in dogs, Bull. Johns Hopkins Hosp. 56: 236, 1935. Google Scholar9. Thorn GW: The diagnosis and treatment of adrenal insufficiency, 1951, Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Ill., p. 151. Google Scholar10. NadlerBelletLanning CSSM: Influence of the serum potassium and other electrolytes on the electrocardiogram in diabetic acidosis, Am. J. Med. 5: 838, 1948. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. ThornKoepfClinton GWGFM: Renal failure simulating adrenocortical insufficiency, New England J. Med. 231: 76, 1944. CrossrefGoogle Scholar12. Berte SJ: Spontaneous adrenal hemorrhage in the adult: literature review and report of two cases, Ann. Int. Med. 38: 28, 1953. LinkGoogle Scholar13. SomervilleLevineThorn WHDGW: The electrocardiogram in Addison's disease, Medicine 30: 43, 1951. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar14. MarksFeit LJE: Flaccid quadriplegia, hyperkalemia and Addison's disease, Arch. Int. Med. 91: 56, 1953. CrossrefGoogle Scholar15. KyleKnop LHCQ: Simulation of cardiac disease by adrenocortical failure in infants, New England J. Med. 243: 681, 1950. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar16. HopperO'ConnellFluss JBPHR: Serum potassium patterns in anuria and oliguria, Ann. Int. Med. 38: 939, 1953. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Winston-Salem, North Carolina*Received for publication June 19, 1953.From the Department of Internal Medicine, Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest College, and the North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 1 January 1954Volume 40, Issue 1Page: 166-171KeywordsFeversHospital medicineIntoxicationPotassiumRenal diseases Issue Published: 1 January 1954 PDF downloadLoading ...