A physician colleague has written to me that he: "recently investigated an elderly Chinese man with hypertension and low K+ for hyperaldosteronism which proved normal; K usually in the range about 2.7-3.5. It occurred to me to wonder whether the reference range for potassium in this ethnic group may be lower than the usual we are used to. Are there any data to indicate whether this might be the case?"
Ther are references to lower potassium levels in Chinese populations with primary hyperaldosteronism and thyrotoxic periodic paralysis, but I am not aware of a lower reference range in this ethnic group. Does anyone on the mailbase know better, and if so could they explain the mechanism?
I'd be happy to summarise for the general readership any responses sent to me personally.
With thanks in anticipation,
Kind regards,
Jeff Davies
Bradford Teaching Hospitals
Your Hospital needs YOU!
We need you to register as a Public, Patient or Staff member and help shape the future of your healthcare.
Call 0870 707 1532 to register by phone or, to register online visit www.bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk where you can also find out more about Membership.
This message is confidential. It may also contain privileged information. The contents of this e-mail and any attachments are intended for the named addressee only. Unless you are the named addressee or authorised to receive the e-mail of the named addressee you may not disclose, use or copy the contents of the e-mail. If you are not the person for whom the message was intended, please notify the sender immediately at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and delete the material from your computer. You must not use the message for any other purpose, nor disclose its contents to any person other than the intended recipient. Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust does not accept responsibility for this message and any views or opinions contained in this e-mail are solely those of the author unless expressly stated otherwise.
------ACB discussion List Information--------
This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical
community working in clinical biochemistry.
Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed
via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and
they are responsible for all message content.
ACB Web Site
http://www.acb.org.uk
List Archives
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html
List Instructions (How to leave etc.)
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/
|