Hyperkalemia associated with high-dose trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Hyperkalemia associated with high-dose trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Pharmacotherapy. 1995 Nov-Dec;15(6):793-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96162747
Mihm LB; Rathbun RC; Resman-Targoff BH; Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University; of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, USA.

Abstract: When given in standard dosages to treat bacterial respiratory and urinary tract infections, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is not commonly associated with hyperkalemia. However, the emergence of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome has led to increased numbers of patients with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) who require high-dose TMP-SMX therapy. A 25-year-old man with human immunodeficiency virus infection developed hyperkalemia while receiving high-dose TMP-SMX for PCP. His baseline serum potassium of 3.0 mEq/L, which increased to 4.2 mEq/L after potassium replacement therapy, rose to 6.9 mEq/L after 8 days of TMP-SMX. No other etiology was found for the hyperkalemia, and the disorder resolved when TMP-SMX was stopped. It recurred when the patient was rechallenged with high doses of TMP-SMX during a second treatment course for PCP. This case and a review of previous reports highlight the importance of monitoring serum potassium concentrations in patients receiving high-dose TMP-SMX.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*COMPLICATIONS Adult Anti-Infective Agents/ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE/*ADVERSE EFFECTS/ THERAPEUTIC USE AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/DRUG THERAPY Case Report Human Hyperkalemia/*CHEMICALLY INDUCED Male Pneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii/DRUG THERAPY Potassium/BLOOD Recurrence Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Combination/ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE/ *ADVERSE EFFECTS/THERAPEUTIC USE JOURNAL ARTICLEKWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/KWDcomplicationsadultanti-infectiveagents/administration&dosage/KWDadverseeffects/therapeuticuseaids-relatedopportunisticinfections/drugtherapycasereporthumanhyperkalemia/KWDchemicallyinducedmalepneumonia,pneumocystiscarinii/drugtherapypotassium/bloodrecurrencetrimethoprim-sulfamethoxazolecombination/administration&dosage/KWDadverseeffects/therapeuticusejournalarticle
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