Potassium Test
Alternate Names : Hypokalemia Test, K+
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What do Abnormal Results Mean?
Greater-than-normal levels of potassium (hyperkalemia) may indicate:
Lower-than-normal levels of potassium (hypokalemia) may indicate:
- The person is not getting enough potassium intake in the diet
- Excessive potassium loss because of a gastrointestinal disorder -- e.g., chronic diarrhea or use of laxatives
- Vomiting
- Diuretic use
- Renal artery stenosis (narrowing of the major blood vessels to the kidney)
- Hyperaldosteronism ("True hyperaldosteronism" as with a tumor of the adrenal gland; "Pseudohyperaldosteronism" as in Liddle's Syndrome)
- Hypokalemic periodic paralysis (low potassium during an episode of paralysis)
- Cushing's syndrome (rare)
- Renal tubular acidosis (rare)
Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:
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