Abstract
Calcium Polystyrene Sulfonate (Argamate Jelly®) is one of the cation-exchange resins which is used to treat hyperkalemia caused by chronic kidney failure. Constipation is well known as one of the major side effects, and as the agent acts directly on the intestinal tract, there has been a report of intestinal tract perforation. This is given as a potential side effect in the drug information leaflet in the packaging. We experienced 3 cases in which colon perforation occurred during internal use of the agent, and report on them herein. We describe the clinical course and the histopathological laboratory findings. In addition, we added some discussion based on the literature and considered a hypothesis of the mechanism which could lead to intestinal perforation during the internal use of Calcium Polystyrene Sulfonate.
