Risk factors associated with pseudoaldosteronism in patients with chronic hepatitis: A retrospective cohort study

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between elevated direct‐bilirubin levels and hypokalaemia, which is the most sensitive marker of pseudoaldosteronism. This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a Japanese university hospital. The occurrence of hypokalaemia, defined as a serum potassium level of ≤ 3.5 mEq/ L after the administration of a glycyrrhizin‐containing medication, and a further decline of ≥ 0.5 mEq/L or an increase of ≥ 0.5 mEq/L after discontinuing the glycyrrhizin‐containing medication were examined in patients with chronic hepatitis between January 2009 and December 2015. This anal ysis involved 1392 patients, including 596 women. Hepatitis C virus infections were the most common cause of chronic hepatitis in this study. Seventy‐nine patients received glycyrrhizin (exposed group; mean age 60.5 ± 14.2) and 1313 did not receive glycyrrhizin (control group; mean age 58.3 ± 15 .8 years). Synergistic effects of glycyrrhizin‐containing medications and elevated direct‐bilirubin levels were associated with hypokalaemia. Elevated direct‐bilirubin levels and hypoalbuminaemia were associated with hypokalaemia in the exposed group. Older age, female sex, high daily glycyrrh izin dosage, longer duration of glycyrrhizin intake, and potassium‐lowering medications were not associated with hypokalaemia after the model adjustment. Elevated direct‐bilirubin levels and hypoalbuminaemia may predict pseudoaldosteronism caused by glycyrrhizin....
Source: Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research