Electrocardiogram in Potassium Depletion Part 1 : Electrocardiographic Patterns in Acute and Chronic Potassium Deficiency

Abstract

One hundred and eighty electrocardiograms obtained from ninty hypopotassemic patients and fifty-eight normal adults were analyzed. Prolongation of the Q-Tc, depression of the ST segment, flattening or inversion of the T wave and prominence of the U wave were observed in hypopotassemic electrocardiograms. In acutely induced hypopotassemia as in familial periodic paralysis electrocardiogram seems to be a reliable guide in making a diagnosis of hypopotassemia. However, in chronically induced hypopotassemia nearly a half of electrocardiograms showed almost normal pattern. Metabolic alkalosis favors the development of hypopotassemic electrocardiographic manifestations.