Potassium Deficiency (Hypokalemia): Or something else? Differential Diagnosis

Congenital malformations, deformities, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99).

EAST syndrome (synonym: SeSAME syndrome) – genetic disorder with autosomal recessive inheritance characterized by cerebral spasms, sensorineural hearing loss, ataxia (disturbance of movement coordination and postural innervation), retardation (delayed development), intellectual deficit, and electrolyte disturbances (hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis (metabolic alkalosis), hypomagnesemia/magnesium deficiency); age of manifestation: Infancy, neonatal period

Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic disorders (E00-E90).

Alkalosis
Condition after compensation of metabolic acidosis/hyperacidity (e.g., in diabetic coma).
Conn syndrome (primary hyperaldosteronism) or secondary hyperaldosteronism (increased formation of aldosterone).
Bartter syndrome – very rare genetic metabolic disorder with autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive or X-linked recessive inheritance; defect tubular transport proteins; hyperaldosteronism (disease states associated with increased secretion of aldosterone), hypokalemia (potassium deficiency) and hypotension (low blood pressure).
Gitelman syndrome (GS; synonym: familial hypokalemia-hypomagnesemia) – genetic condition with autosomal recessive inheritance characterized by hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis (metabolic alkalosis with potassium deficiency) with marked hypomagnesemia (magnesium deficiency) and low urinary calcium excretion.
Hyperinsulinism – presence of elevated insulin levels in the blood (fasting insulin > 17 mU/l).
Hypomagnesemia (magnesium deficiency)
Cushing’s disease – group of diseases leading to hypercortisolism (hypercortisolism; excess of cortisol).

Infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99).

Circulatory system (I00-I99)

Liddle syndrome – very rare genetic disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance associated with severe, early-onset hypertension with decreased plasma levels of potassium, renin, and aldosterone.

Mouth, esophagus (food pipe), stomach, and intestines (K00-K67; K90-K93).

Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).

Sjögren’s syndrome – autoimmune disease from the group of collagenoses leading to chronic inflammatory disease or destruction of the exocrine glands, with the salivary and lacrimal glands most commonly affected; including hypokalemia (potassium deficiency) with metabolic acidosis (metabolic acidosis), interstitial nephritis (kidney inflammation).

Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99).

Anorexia nervosa (anorexia nervosa)
Bulimia nervosa (BN) – also called binge eating disorder; belongs to the psychogenic eating disorders.
Paroxysmal muscle paralysis
Tremor (shaking)

Pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium (O00-O99)

Hyperemesis gravidarum (extreme morning sickness) – extreme vomiting during pregnancy.

Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).

Genitourinary system (kidneys, urinary tract – reproductive organs) (N00-N99).

Acute renal failure (ANV)
Hypokalemic nephropathy (kidney disease) with impaired ability to concentrate, polyuria (increased urination), and polydipsia (excessive fluid intake through drinking)
Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) – genetic disease with autosomal recessive inheritance leading to a defect in H+ ion secretion in the tubular system of the kidney and, as a result, demineralization of bone (hypercalciuria and hyperphosphaturia/increased excretion of calcium and phosphate in the urine) and hypokalemia (potassium deficiency)

Other differential diagnoses

Enteral fistulas
Enterostomy (artificial bowel outlet)
Probe drains (stomach, duodenum (duodenum), bile, pancreas/pancreas, small intestine).
Parenteral nutrition (“bypassing the intestine”) without potassium supplementation.
Licorice abuse
Consumption of stimulants: alcohol, caffeinated beverages (eg, coffee, black or green tea, cola).

Medication