Chronic Hyperkaliemia in Chronic Kidney Disease: An Old Concern with New Answers

Abstract

Increasing potassium intake ameliorates blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular (CV) prognoses in the general population; therefore the World Health Organization recommends a high-potassium diet (90–120 mEq/day). Hyperkalaemia is a rare condition in healthy individuals due to the ability of the kidneys to effectively excrete dietary potassium load in urine, while an increase in serum K+ is prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Hyperkalaemia prevalence increases in more advanced CKD stages, and is associated with a poor prognosis. This scenario generates controversy on the correct nutritional approach to hyperkalaemia in CKD patients, con-sidering the unproven link between potassium intake and serum K+ levels. Another concern is that drug-induced hyperkalaemia leads to the down-titration or withdrawal of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASI) and mineralocorticoids receptors antagonists (MRA) in patients with CKD, de-priving these patients of central therapeutic interventions aimed at delaying CKD progression and decreasing CV mortality. The new K+-binder drugs (Patiromer and Sodium-Zirconium Cyclosili-cate) have proven to be adequate and safe therapeutic options to control serum K+ in CKD patients, enabling RASI and MRA therapy, and possibly, a more liberal intake of fruit and vegetables.