Background: Potassium deficiency may cause cardiac arrhythmias culminating in syncope or sudden death.
Methods: An inquiry performed among physicians caring for a total of 249 patients with inborn salt-losing tubulopathies revealed that acute cardiac complications occurred in seven children.
Results: Four patients died suddenly and three had severe syncope. These episodes occurred in the context of severe chronic hypokalaemia (< or =2.5 mmol/l) or were precipitated by acute diseases, which exacerbated hypokalaemia (< or =2.0 mmol/l).
Conclusions: In conclusion, severe chronic or acute hypokalaemia is hazardous in inborn salt-losing tubulopathies.