Hypokalemia caused by liposomal amphotericin B according to renal function

Abstract

Appearance of hypokalemia is a problem associated with the use of liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB).In this study, we aimed to clarify whether the relative frequency of hypokalemia attributed to the use of liposomal amphotericin B medication changes with the grade of renal function. The study focused on 46 adult patients in the Osaka National Hospital, who had been administered L-AMB for 3 or more days.In this study, we found that the appearance of hypokalemia did not depend on the level of renal function. Further, hypokalemia developed in one patient for whom renal replacement therapy had been performed. However, there was no significant difference in the frequency of hypokalemia according to renal function. Therefore, when using L-AMB, it is desirable to monitor serum potassium levels from an early stage, regardless of the grade of renal function.