Whole-body Counting Of 40K Research Articles

Longitudinal Study of Total Body Potassium in Healthy Men

Objectives: Total body potassium (TBK) is an index of fat-free mass and an accurate measure of body cell mass (BCM). To date, however, no longitudinal studies have evaluated body composition using TBK in aging healthy adults. The purpose of this study was to assess TBK and BCM in healthy men over a 21-year period, and to evaluate changes with age.Design: A 21-year longitudinal, prospective, observational study evaluating TBK and BCM and their relationship to changes with aging and body mass index (BMI).Subjects: Body composition of 133 healthy Italian men, 20 to 66 years of age, was measured by whole-body counting of 40K. TBK was calculated by using this formula: 40K × 8.474. BCM was calculated from TBK by using this formula: BCM (kg) = 0.00833 × TBK (mmol).Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased significantly from baseline to end of study (p < 0.01), with no change in TBK observed over the 21-year period. BCM summaries were tested to determine if any was a good predictor of BMI after age 30. Participants with a low maximum BCM (<27 kg) at an early age tended to exhibit decreased BMI as they aged, whereas those with a high maximum BCM (>27 kg) at an early age tended to show increased BMI as they aged.Conclusion: Despite an overall increase in the incidence of overweight and obesity over the 21-year period, a high maximum BCM at an early age was a predictor of an increase in BMI as men got older.

Estimation of percentage body fat by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry: evaluation by in vivo human elemental composition

Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is widely applied for estimating body fat. The percentage of body mass as fat (%fat) is predicted from a DXA-estimated RST value defined as the ratio of soft tissue attenuation at two photon energies (e.g., 40 keV and 70 keV). Theoretically, the RST concept depends on the mass of each major element in the human body. The DXA RST values, however, have never been fully evaluated by measured human elemental composition. The present investigation evaluated the DXA RST value by the total body mass of 11 major elements and the DXA %fat by the five-component (5C) model, respectively. Six elements (i.e. C, N, Na, P, Cl and Ca) were measured by in vivo neutron activation analysis, and potassium (i.e. K) by whole-body 40K counting in 27 healthy adults. Models were developed for predicting the total body mass of four additional elements (i.e. H, O, Mg and S). The elemental content of soft tissue, after correction for bone mineral elements, was used to predict the RST values. The DXA RST values were strongly associated with the RST values predicted from elemental content (r = 0.976, P < 0.001), although there was a tendency for the elemental-predicted RST to systematically exceed the DXA-measured RST (mean ± SD, 1.389 ± 0.024 versus 1.341 ± 0.024). DXA-estimated %fat was strongly associated with 5C %fat (24.4 ± 12.0% versus 24.9 ± 11.1%, r = 0.983, P < 0.001). DXA RST is evaluated by in vivo elemental composition, and the present study supports the underlying physical concept and accuracy of the DXA method for estimating %fat.

Evaluation of between-methods agreement of extracellular water measurements in adults and children

BackgroundExtracellular water (ECW), a relevant molecular level component for clinical assessment, is commonly obtained by 2 methods that rely on assumptions that may not be possible to test at the time the measurements are made. ObjectiveThe aim of the current study was to evaluate the degree of agreement between ECW assessment by the sodium bromide dilution (ECWNaBr) and total body potassium (TBK; whole-body 40K counting) to total body water (TBW; isotope dilution) methods (ECWTBK-TBW) in an ethnically mixed group of children and adults. DesignECW was measured with the ECWNaBr and ECWTBK-TBW methods in 526 white and African American males and females (86 nonobese children, 193 nonobese adults, and 247 obese adults). Fat mass was assessed with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the variables related to between-ECW method differences. ResultsSignificant but generally small group mean (±SD) differences in ECW were found in the obese adults (1.28 ± 2.54 kg) and children (−0.71 ± 1.78 kg). The magnitude of the differences was related to mean ECW in obese adults, children, and nonobese adults, and the relations between these variables were modified by sex for nonobese adults. ECW differences were also dependent on age, weight, sex, and race or on interactions between these variables. ConclusionsOverall, although good between-method agreement was found across the 3 groups, the degree of agreement varied according to subject characteristics, particularly at the extremes of ECW and body weight. We advance a possible mechanism that may link subject characteristics with the degree of agreement between ECW measurement methods and their underlying assumptions.

A New Total Body Potassium Method to Estimate Total Body Skeletal Muscle Mass in Children ,

A whole body skeletal muscle [(SM); kg] mass estimation model, based on total body potassium [(TBK); mmol] measured by whole body 40K counting (WBC) was developed (SM = 0.0082·TBK) and validated in adults in a previous study. It is unknown whether the adult TBK SM prediction model is applicable for pediatric use. The aim of this study was to derive and validate a pediatric TBK SM prediction equation. SM measured by MRI was used as the criterion and TBK was measured by WBC. The protocol was completed in 116 healthy children, 66 males and 50 females, 11.7 α 3.5 y (mean α SD, range = 5–17 y). A strong linear correlation was observed between TBK and SM (r = 0.984; P < 0.001). The SM:TBK ratio was 0.0071 α 0.0008 kg/mmol in the children studied, much lower than the corresponding value of 0.0082 kg/mmol in adults. An empirical SM prediction equation was developed using TBK alone: SM = 0.0085·TBK − 2.83, r2 = 0.97, SEE = 1.39 kg. Bland-Altman analysis did not disclose a significant bias in the prediction of SM. When biological factors entered along with TBK in the general linear model, another prediction equation was developed: SM = 5.52 + 0.001·TBK (mmol) + 0.081·weight (kg) − 0.049·height (cm) + 0.00004·TBK · height + race (−0.60 for Caucasian, 0.49 for African-American, and 0 for Hispanic). Because the adult TBK SM prediction model is not applicable for pediatric use, this study provides new empirical TBK SM prediction equations that should prove useful for studies on nutrition, growth, and development in children.

Extracellular water across the adult lifespan: reference values for adults

Extracellular water (ECW) is a large and clinically important body compartment that varies widely in volume both in health and disease. Interpretation of ECW measurements in the clinical setting requires consideration of potential influencing factors such as age, race, sex and other variables that influence fluid status. An important gap in physiological research is a lack of normative ECW values against which to reference perturbations in fluid homeostasis. The current study's aim was to develop conditional quantile equations for ECW based on weight, height, age, sex and race using a large (n = 1538, 854 females and 684 males) healthy adult multi-ethnic (African American, Asian, European American, Hispanic) sample. ECW was derived from total body water and potassium measured by isotope dilution and whole-body 40K counting, respectively. Quantile regression methods were used to identify five percentile levels (10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th). Weight and height were significant variables at each quantile in both males and females; age made a significant contribution in the male but not the female sample. These regression equations provide ECW quantile reference values based on a large multi-ethnic adult population that should not only prove useful in clinical settings and physiological research, but serve as a model approach for developing body composition normative ranges.

Assessment of total body potassium in healthy Italian men

Background: Whole-body 40K counting is a valuable tool for assessing cellular changes in body composition with ageing.Aim: The objectives of this study were to assess total body potassium (TBK) and body cell mass (BCM) differences with age, and to compare TBK and BCM between individuals with a body mass index (BMI) <25 kg m−2 versus >25 kg m−2.Subjects and methods: Body composition of 840 healthy Italian men, 18–70 years of age, was measured by whole-body counting of 40K. BCM (kg) was calculated as 0.00833 × TBK (mmol).Results: Body weight did not differ among groups. TBK, TBK/height, TBK/body weight, and BCM were significantly lower for the 51–70-year-old group compared with all other groups. The 51–70-year-old group with a BMI < 25 kg m−2 had significantly lower TBK, TBK/height, and BCM than all other decades with a BMI < 25 kg m−2; whereas TBK/body weight was significantly lower than the 18–30 and 31–40-year-old groups. The 51–70-year-old group with a BMI > 25 kg m−2 had significantly lower TBK, TBK/height, TBK/body weight, and BCM than all other decades with a BMI > 25 kg m−2.Conclusion: TBK and BCM decrease significantly with ageing, which could result in decreased functional capacity in older adults.

Incidence and consequences of total body potassium depletion in chronic hemodialysis patients.

This study determined relationship between total body potassium (TBK) and morbidity and mortality of patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). DESIGN, PATIENTS, SETTING: Long term observational study of 15 ESRD patients receiving chronic hemodialysis in an academically affiliated Veterans Affairs Medical Center Hospital. METHODOLOGY AND OUTCOME MEASURE: TBK by whole-body counting of 40K, dialysis potassium losses, and patient demographic characteristics were determined. Survival was evaluated retrospectively after seven years of follow-up. Six of 15 patients (40%) had TBK depletion. All patients who were TBK depleted, expired by study end. In contrast, only 4 of 9 patients with normal K+ stores had died during the same time period (P<0.02). Median survival time of subjects with normal TBK was 100 vs 55 months for the depleted group (chi2=4.6, P<0.05). Patients with normal TBK were younger (41.9 vs 62.5 years, P<0.02) and predominantly black (78%). The ESRD group with normal TBK received more hours of hemodialysis (HD) per week (11.2 hours vs 9.7, P<0.02) and had greater K+ removal than the depleted patients (70.5 mmol/treatment vs 43.8). Urea reduction ratio was not statistically different between groups. Serum albumin, interdialytic increases in BUN and weight, and body mass index were not different between normal and TBK depleted groups. TBK depletion occurs in a significant proportion of HD patients and is associated with increased mortality. It is prudent to customize HD and dietary prescriptions to maintain normal levels of TBK in ESRD patients.

Value of total body potassium in assessing the nutritional status of children with end-stage liver disease.

Malnutrition is a common problem in children with end-stage liver disease (ESLD), and accurate assessment of nutritional status is essential in managing these children. In a retrospective study, we compared nutritional assessment by anthropometry with that by body composition. We analyzed all consecutive measurements of total body potassium (TBK, n = 186) of children less than 3 years old with ESLD awaiting transplantation found in our database. The TBK values obtained by whole body counting of 40K were compared with reference TBK values of healthy children. The prevalence of malnutrition, as assessed by weight (weight Z score < -2) was 28%, which was significantly lower (chi-square test, p < 0.0001) than the prevalence of malnutrition (76%) assessed by TBK (< 90% of expected TBK for age). These results demonstrated that body weight underestimated the nutritional deficit and stressed the importance of measuring body composition as part of assessing nutritional status of children with ESLD.

Time-dependent variation in weight and body composition in healthy adults.

To define the limits of change in body weight and body composition after different time intervals in healthy, normal adults. Prospective and retrospective analyses of paired body composition studies in a total of 326 healthy adults, ages 18 to 97. Measurements included body weight, fat and fat-free mass (FFM) by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bioimpedance analysis (BIA), plus body cell mass (BCM) by whole-body counting of 40K and BIA. Time interval between studies was a significant predictor of the differences in paired studies. The 95% confidence intervals for percent difference were lowest for body weight, intermediate for BCM and FFM, and highest for fat, in part because of the differences in sizes of these body compartments. There were significant associations among the changes in body composition by BIA and by criterion methods, suggesting that the observed changes are real. The normal variation in body weight and body composition increases over time. Time-dependent criteria may increase the sensitivity in diagnosing malnutrition. Interpreting changes in body compartments requires consideration of the size of each compartment.

Validation of bioimpedance analysis as a measure of change in body cell mass as estimated by whole-body counting of potassium in adults.

The body cell mass (BCM) is an important measure of macronutrient status, but measurements are difficult to obtain outside of sophisticated research laboratories. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) is a simple technique that holds promise as a means of estimating body composition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of BIA to estimate changes in BCM as measured by whole body counting of 40K (TBK). Paired studies of BCM, including both TBK and BIA, were compared in 87 human immunodeficiency virus-positive subjects and in 62 healthy, weight-stable control adults. Potential errors in the predictions were examined. BCM change by TBK and BIA correlated closely (r = .755). After accounting for errors related to repeat measures of TBK, the correlation coefficient was .784, with a standard error of the estimate of 1.24 kg. The differences between predicted and measured BCM change were consistent with a normal distribution. However, there was a systematic error in prediction, with BIA underpredicting the magnitudes of both gains and losses in BCM by TBK. BIA is a useful surrogate for measuring changes in BCM in clinical circumstances. Because TBK assesses only intracellular potassium, whereas BIA reflects all intracellular cations, the underprediction of BCM change by BIA compared with TBK could be related to changes in intracellular potassium concentration as a result of malnutrition or its treatment.

Studies of body composition and fat distribution in HIV-infected and control subjects.

Recent studies have documented alterations in body fat distribution that have been associated with protease inhibitor therapy. We compared body composition, including measurements of fat distribution, in 96 HIV-infected subjects studied since January 1996 (current HIV), subjects seen prior to January 1996 (previous HIV), and healthy controls. Retrospective cross-sectional studies of subjects matched by gender, race, age, and height. Body weight, height, body cell mass by whole-body counting of 40K plus fat, fat-free mass, and body fat distribution by anthropometry were measured. Current HIV men weighed more (p = .025) and had more body cell mass than previous HIV men, but less than controls (p < .001). In women, the between group differences in fat were greater than the differences in body cell mass. Current and previous HIV study subjects had lower indices of subcutaneous and higher indices of visceral fat than controls. In current HIV subjects, body fat distribution was significantly associated with log plasma HIV RNA content but not with antiretroviral or protease inhibitor usage, nor with CD4+ lymphocyte counts. In 7 of 9 current HIV subjects studied, 24-hour urinary free cortisol excretion was abnormally high. Alterations in body fat distribution are a characteristic feature in HIV infection. The occurrence of increased visceral fat content and decreased subcutaneous fat content preceded the era of combination antiretroviral therapy. The alteration in fat distribution may be affected by plasma HIV RNA content rather than antiretroviral or protease-inhibitor therapy. The body composition alterations might be associated with endogenous hypercortisolism.

The Relationship Between Growth Hormone Kinetics and Sarcopenia in Postmenopausal Women

Sarcopenia, the decline in body cell mass (BCM) and especially in muscle mass with age, is an important age-related cause of frailty and loss of independence in the elderly. Because the decline in BCM with age parallels a decline in GH secretion from young adulthood to old age, loss of GH secretion has been considered an important contributory cause of sarcopenia in the elderly. To test this hypothesis in a group of healthy postmenopausal women (n = 15; mean +/- SD age, 66.9 +/- 7.8 yr), 24-h GH concentrations and secretory kinetics were correlated with BCM (measured by whole body counting of 40K) and percent body fat (measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry or neutron inelastic scattering). Serum leptin levels were determined as a measure of adipocyte mass. Contrary to prediction, GH secretion was lower in women with higher BCM (r = 0.50; P < 0.05), whereas their mean fat mass was higher (r = 0.51, P < 0.05). These data indicate that sarcopenia in postmenopausal women is not associated with reduced GH secretion and is inversely correlated with fat mass. Serum leptin levels were inversely associated with GH secretion (r = -0.67; P < 0.006). Although a causal relationship has not been demonstrated, these data suggest that leptin could modulate GH secretion through its action on the aging hypothalamic-pituitary axis, or that GH regulates leptin secretion.

The relationship between growth hormone kinetics and sarcopenia in postmenopausal women: the role of fat mass and leptin.

Sarcopenia, the decline in body cell mass (BCM) and especially in muscle mass with age, is an important age-related cause of frailty and loss of independence in the elderly. Because the decline in BCM with age parallels a decline in GH secretion from young adulthood to old age, loss of GH secretion has been considered an important contributory cause of sarcopenia in the elderly. To test this hypothesis in a group of healthy postmenopausal women (n = 15; mean +/- SD age, 66.9 +/- 7.8 yr), 24-h GH concentrations and secretory kinetics were correlated with BCM (measured by whole body counting of 40K) and percent body fat (measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry or neutron inelastic scattering). Serum leptin levels were determined as a measure of adipocyte mass. Contrary to prediction, GH secretion was lower in women with higher BCM (r = 0.50; P < 0.05), whereas their mean fat mass was higher (r = 0.51, P < 0.05). These data indicate that sarcopenia in postmenopausal women is not associated with reduced GH secretion and is inversely correlated with fat mass. Serum leptin levels were inversely associated with GH secretion (r = -0.67; P < 0.006). Although a causal relationship has not been demonstrated, these data suggest that leptin could modulate GH secretion through its action on the aging hypothalamic-pituitary axis, or that GH regulates leptin secretion.

Plasma potassium in patients with terminal renal failure during and after haemodialysis; relationship with dialytic potassium removal and total body potassium.

Chronic haemodialysis (HD) patients may present with severe predialysis hyperkalaemia which is improved by dialytic treatment. However, factors influencing the behaviour of postdialysis plasma potassium (plasma K) are not well known. In this prospective study 14 patients (7 female, 7 male) on chronic HD were investigated during a standardized 4-h HD with a 2 m2 high-flux dialyser and up to 6 h postdialysis. Dialytic potassium removal was measured by dialysate collection. Total body potassium (TBK) was measured by whole-body counting of 40K. Plasma K declined from 5.65 to 3.62 mmol/l on HD. In spite of a total dialytic removal of 107 mmol of potassium plasma K rose to 5.01 mmol/16 h postdialysis. TBK, as adjusted for age, was 38.2 and 49.0 mmol/kg BW in female and male patients respectively, i.e. in the normal range. Of a total potassium removal of 107 mmol on HD only 42% originated from the extracellular space. Dialytic potassium removal was best correlated with removal of intracellular potassium but also with extracellular potassium content and with the product of plasma K x TBK. The 6-h postdialysis plasma K was correlated with the predialysis value but not with TBK or dialytic potassium removal. A rather high dialytic removal of potassium (which is correlated with plasma K x TBK) does not necessarily prevent a rapid postdialysis rebound of plasma K. Therefore patients with marked hyperkalaemia should be monitored closely postdialysis. TBK can be normal in haemodialysis patients who are well nourished.

Metabolically active component of fat-free body mass: Influences of age, adiposity, and gender

Fat-free body mass (FFM) is often considered the metabolically active compartment and is widely used to adjust between-subject differences in resting energy expenditure for body composition. The use of FFM as the metabolically active portion of body weight makes the assumption that the body cell mass (BCM) component which is more difficult to measure, maintains a relatively constant relationship to FFM within and between subjects. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that BCM and FFM are associated independently of age, adiposity (as represented by body density), and gender in healthy white women and men. BCM and FFM were estimated by whole-body 40K-counting and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), respectively. Multiple regression analysis was used to model the relationships between BCM as the dependent variable and FFM, age, body density, and gender as potential independent variables. FFM alone explained 51% and 63% of between-individual BCM differences in women (n = 269) and men (n = 204) (both P = .0001), respectively. Age contributed significantly ( P = .0001) to BCM prediction after adjusting first for FFM in both women and men. Body density also added significantly ( P = .004 and P = .0001) to FFM and age prediction of BCM in women and men, respectively. Lastly, gender contributed significantly to the composite model, with 91% of between-individual differences in BCM explained by FFM, age, body density, and gender. Hence, BCM does not maintain a fixed relationship to FFM, as often assumed, but varies significantly and independently of FFM with age, adiposity, and gender. These findings have implications for the study of metabolic indices such as resting energy expenditure.

Comparison of methods to estimate body fat in growth hormone deficient adults

All of the presently used methods for in-vivo determination of body composition have inherent methodological errors and depend on various assumptions. We have therefore compared several different methods used to measure body fat in adult GH deficiency during GH treatment. Comparison of body composition data from a two-phase trial with an initial placebo-controlled, double-blind 6-month period, followed by open treatment with GH until all patients had received GH for 12 months. Twenty-five patients with known GH deficiency entered the study. Baseline examinations were complete in 23 patients, and 22 patients (16 males, 6 females) completed all examinations after treatment. Body fat calculated from total body potassium (TBK) by whole-body 40K counting, total body water (TBW) by tritium dilution, total body nitrogen (TBN) by neutron activation, and bioelectric impedance (BIA) measurements were compared to body fat determinations by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in two-compartment and multicompartment body composition models. At baseline, DEXA fat mass agreed well at group level with measurements based on TBW or TBK alone, in a four-compartment model based on TBK and TBW, and a multicompartment model based on bone mineral (by DEXA), TBN and TBW. Body fat by BIA agreed less well. After 12 months of GH treatment, body fat decreased by all methods used. This decrease was smaller by DEXA than by the other methods. The four-compartment model based on TBK and TBW, and TBW alone, showed the best agreement with changes in DEXA fat. All methods showed a decrease of body fat with GH treatment, but variation between methods was considerable.

Basal metabolic rate in adults with growth hormone deficiency and in patients with acromegaly: relationship with lean body mass, plasma insulin level and leucocyte sodium pump activity.

1. The relationship of lean body mass, plasma insulin concentration and leucocyte active sodium transport with basal metabolic rate was investigated in 24 adults with growth hormone deficiency before and after treatment with recombinant human growth hormone and in 10 patients with untreated acromegaly. 2. Based on total-body potassium determined by whole-body 40K counting, patients with acromegaly had increased lean body mass, whereas lack of growth hormone was associated with decreased lean body mass. 3. By indirect calorimetry, patients with acromegaly had increased basal metabolic rates and patients with growth hormone deficiency had decreased values when expressed as percentages of values predicted from the WHO/FAO/UNU equations. Basal metabolic rate expressed in terms of lean body mass was similar in acromegaly and growth hormone deficiency, but was higher than normal in both patient groups. 4. The leucocyte ouabain-sensitive sodium efflux rate constant was decreased in both patients with acromegaly and patients with growth hormone deficiency, and there was no correlation with basal energy expenditure, fasting plasma insulin level or serum growth hormone level. 5. There was no increase in the sodium efflux rate constant in patients with growth hormone deficiency after 1 month on treatment with recombinant human growth hormone. 6. Apparent differences in basal metabolic rate in growth hormone deficiency and acromegaly are due to changes in lean body mass. Both adults with growth hormone deficiency and patients with acromegaly have increased energy expenditure, probably owing to changes in fuel metabolism which are not reflected in the leucocyte sodium pump activity.

Differences in skeletal muscle and bone mineral mass between black and white females and their relevance to estimates of body composition

This study tested the hypothesis that black females have an increase in skeletal muscle and bone mineral mass compared with white females matched for age (+/- 5 y), weight (+/- 2 kg), height (+/- 3 cm), and menstrual status. Conventional [underwater weighing, whole body 40K counting (WBC), 3H2O dilution] and newly developed (dual-photon absorptiometry) techniques were used to provide ethnicity-independent estimates of body composition in 28 pairs of matched subjects. Black females had greater appendicular skeletal muscle (P less than 0.001), bone mineral (P less than 0.001), and total body potassium (TBK) (P = 0.05) compared with white females. Two classic coefficients used in body composition research [density of fat-free mass (FFM) for underwater weighing and TBK/FFM for WBC] differed significantly (P less than 0.05) between black and white females; currently applied coefficients underestimated fat in black females. This study confirms that black and white females differ in body composition and that errors in fat estimates occur when ethnicity is not accounted for in body composition models.

Evidence for large intestinal control of potassium homoeostasis in uraemic patients undergoing long-term dialysis.

1. The role of the large intestine in the maintenance of K+ balance in uraemic patients established on long-term dialysis was studied with a rectal dialysis technique in 14 normal subjects, ten normokalaemic patients undergoing chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), and seven patients undergoing haemodialysis. Dietary K+ intakes in the normal subjects, CAPD patients and haemodialysis patients were 80-100 mmol/24 h, 70-80 mmol/24 h and 60-70 mmol/24 h, respectively. 2. At an initial intraluminal K+ concentration of 45 mmol/l, rectal K+ secretion in the CAPD patients (2.4 +/- 0.4 mumol h-1 cm-2) was greater than in normal subjects (1.2 +/- 0.2 mumol h-1 cm-2, P less than 0.02). Under similar conditions, rectal K+ secretion was also greater in the haemodialysis patients than in normal subjects, both predialysis (3.7 +/- 0.4 mumol h-1 cm-2, P less than 0.001) and postdialysis (2.4 +/- 0.5 mumol h-1 cm-2, P less than 0.05), even though haemodialysis decreased plasma K+ concentration from 5.3 +/- 0.1 mmol/l to 3.5 +/- 0.2 mmol/l (P less than 0.001). 3. There were no significant differences in rectal Na+ absorption, rectal potential difference, plasma aldosterone concentration, or total body K+ content (measured by whole-body counting of 40K), between the normal subjects and either the CAPD or the haemodialysis patients. 4. These results indicate that K+ homoeostasis is maintained in uraemic patients undergoing long-term dialysis by a combination of K+ losses during dialysis, and enhanced large intestinal K+ excretion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Total body potassium in Bartter's syndrome before and during treatment with enalapril.

Total Body Potassium (TBK) was measured by whole body counting of 40K in 3 patients with Bartter's syndrome before, after 3 months and after 1 year of treatment with enalapril. In 2 patients TBK was found to be decreased before treatment, whereas TBK was within the normal range in the 3rd. During treatment serum potassium concentration and TBK increased in each subject and symptoms of fatigue and tetany disappeared. Enalapril is shown to be an effective treatment in Bartter's syndrome as it improves serum potassium, TBK and complaints.