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Erythrocyte sodium-potassium transport in hyperkalaemic and normokalaemic infants

  • Neonatology
  • Original Paper
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Abstract

Abstract

One of the causes of early onset hyperkalaemia in very low birth weight infants is presumed to be the dysfunction of K+ transport across the cell membrane. Sodiumpotassium adenosine triphosphatase(Na+−K+ ATPase) is known to play a major role in K+ transport. We compared the concentrations of erythrocyte Na+−K+ ATPase (Vmax levels) for hyperkalaemic and normokalaemic infants of matched gestational age. In hyperkalaemic infants, the highest levels of Vmax were reached at 24–48 h after birth, but in normokalaemic infants, there were no significant changes in Vmax levels during the 1st week after birth. At 12–72 h after birth, erythrocyte K+ concentrations for hyperkalaemic infants were higher than those of normokalaemic infants. For both groups of infants, the highest levels of plasma K+ during the 1st week after birth showed a positive correlation with those of Vmax.

Conclusion

Na+−K+ ATPase on the cell membrane is activated to compensate for hyperkalaemia; however, when this compensation is incomplete, hyperkalaemia occurs.

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Abbreviations

BUN :

blood urea nitrogen

ICH :

intracranial haemorrhage

IC−K + :

erythrocyte potassium concentration

IC−Na + :

erythrocyte sodium concentration

Na +K + :

ATPase sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase

P−K + :

plasma potassium concentration

P−Na + :

plasma sodium concentration

RDS :

respiratory distress syndrome

VLBWI :

very low birth weight infants

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Matsuo, Y., Hasegawa, K., Doi, Y. et al. Erythrocyte sodium-potassium transport in hyperkalaemic and normokalaemic infants. Eur J Pediatr 154, 571–576 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02074837

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02074837

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