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VOLUME 17 , ISSUE 6 ( December, 2013 ) > List of Articles

CASE REPORT

Refractory hyperkalemia related to heparin abuse

Sidhartha Garg, Bakhshish Singh

Keywords : Hemodialysis, heparin abuse, hyperkalemia

Citation Information : Garg S, Singh B. Refractory hyperkalemia related to heparin abuse. Indian J Crit Care Med 2013; 17 (6):388-391.

DOI: 10.4103/0972-5229.123463

License: CC BY-ND 3.0

Published Online: 01-09-2014

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2013; The Author(s).


Abstract

Hyperkalemia is a potentially life-threatening condition, which may occur in many clinical settings. Heparin-induced hyperkalemia is less well-recognized than other side effects of heparin therapy. Even lesser known is heparin abuse amongst drug addicts. We report a case of fatal hyperkalemia related to long-term heparin abuse, which was refractory to anti-hyperkalemia therapy including hemodialysis. The objective is to alert the clinicians to possible abuse of heparin in drug addicts, which can be a cause for refractory hyperkalemia. We also briefly review the available literature on heparin-induced hyperkalemia.


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