Severe hypokalemia due to combination use of dexamethasone and calcium gluconate for diabetics with infection: a case report.
- Author:
Shun-qi HAN
;
Zhi-qiang QIN
;
Kai-fei DENG
;
Jian-hua ZHANG
;
Ning-guo LIU
;
Dong-hua ZOU
;
Zheng-dong LI
;
Yu SHAO
;
Ping HUANG
;
Yi-jiu CHEN
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Adult;
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/adverse effects*;
Calcium Gluconate/adverse effects*;
Dexamethasone/adverse effects*;
Diabetes Mellitus;
Fatal Outcome;
Humans;
Hypokalemia/chemically induced*;
Male
- From:
Journal of Forensic Medicine
2014;30(4):304-306
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The combination use of dexamethasone and calcium gluconate can be applied to hypersensitivity. Severe hypokalemia is a usual complication of dexamethasone and calcium gluconate therapy, which occurs frequently with therapeutic use. Fatal cases, accidental and intentional, occur frequently in forensic practice. The current case report presented a 43-year-old man with diabetes mellitus with infection, to whom dexamethasone and calcium gluconate were administered in the private clinic. With the development of such clinical symptoms of severe hypokalemia as quadriplegia, he was confirmed to have severe hypokalemia through a biochemical test before dying of arrhythmia. And also it presented pathophysiologic mechanism underlying severe hypokalemia as well as suggestions for clinical practice regarding combination use of dexamethasone and calcium gluconate.
