Verapamil and mild hyperkalemia in hemodialysis patients: a potentially hazardous association

Hemodial Int. 2006 Apr;10(2):170-2. doi: 10.1111/j.1542-4758.2006.00090.x.

Abstract

During the past 3 years, 3 patients undergoing intermittent hemodialysis (or about to do so) in our hospital developed a third-degree atrioventricular block while being treated with verapamil for blood pressure or supraventricular arrhythmia. In the 3 cases, mild hyperkalemia was concomitant. The medical history of these patients revealed no intrinsic cause of atrioventricular conduction disturbance. We report herein the 3 cases and draw attention to the risks of atrioventricular block in this particular context.

MeSH terms

  • Blood Chemical Analysis
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart Block / drug therapy*
  • Heart Block / etiology
  • Humans
  • Hyperkalemia / chemically induced*
  • Hyperkalemia / physiopathology
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / diagnosis
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Renal Dialysis / adverse effects*
  • Renal Dialysis / methods
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Verapamil / adverse effects*
  • Verapamil / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Verapamil