Can chemotherapy cause low potassium?

Can chemotherapy cause low potassium?

Platinum chemotherapy, particularly cisplatin, is commonly associated with electrolyte imbalances, including hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, hypocalcemia and hyponatremia.

What causes low potassium levels in cancer patients?

Hypokalemia is the second most frequent electrolyte imbalance seen in patients with malignant diseases. In SCLC, amongst the important causes of low potassium levels in the blood are adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)-secreting tumors.

Does chemo affect your potassium levels?

Any damage to your kidneys, when they are not working properly, may cause an increase in potassium levels leading to hyperkalemia. As seen with tumor lysis syndrome – when you receive chemotherapy, the drugs will act by breaking down the tumor cells.

Can cancer treatment cause low potassium?

Hypokalemia is a potentially life-threatening complication that occurs in many patients with cancer. Nurses need to be aware of the many common causes of this electrolyte disorder as well as appropriate assessment strategies that will enable potential problems to be detected and treated early.

Why is magnesium low after chemo?

Cardiovascular and kidney related complications resulting from cancer and cancer therapy frequently require the use of cardiovascular medications that can contribute to hypomagnesemia. Traditional chemotherapeutic agents cause hypomagnesemia that can persist for months to years after cessation of cancer therapy (5).

What happens if potassium is too low?

In hypokalemia, the level of potassium in blood is too low. A low potassium level has many causes but usually results from vomiting, diarrhea, adrenal gland disorders, or use of diuretics. A low potassium level can make muscles feel weak, cramp, twitch, or even become paralyzed, and abnormal heart rhythms may develop.

What are the warning signs of low potassium?

Identifying the Signs. Watch for early warning signs. The first signs of moderately low potassium can be muscle aches, cramps and abnormal weakness ((including respiratory and gastrointestinal muscle weakness if severe).

Is low potassium a sign of cancer?

Some of the signs that you are low in potassium are irregular heartbeat, constipation, muscles cramps, weakness, and fatigue. Moreover, people with cancer usually suffer from two other potassium related conditions.

What are the dangers of low potassium?

Potassium deficiency may also result in hypertension, depression, headache, etc. Critically low levels of potassium is life-threatening as it may cause permanent muscle damage, kidney damage, paralysis, etc.

Does low potassium cause EKGs to change?

There can be electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG) changes associated with low potassium, and sometimes the diagnosis of low potassium is made incidentally by finding the characteristic “U” waves on the EKG tracing. In severe cases, hypokalemia can lead to dangerous disturbances in heart rhythm (dysrhythmia).