Hyperkalemia Secondary to Concurrent Pharmacotherapy in a Patient Receiving Home Parenteral Nutrition

We report a case of probable combined octreotide-and heparin-induced hyperkalemia. The patient had been receiving home parenteral nutrition, enoxaparin, and octreotide for 10 months. She required very little potassium in her PN solution to maintain serum potassium concentrations in the normal range. The patient reportedly did not receive other medications or have clinical conditions that, to our knowledge, cause hyperkalemia. She maintained normal renal function throughout the hospitalization and did not appear to have any significant acid-base disorders. Practitioners should be aware of the potential for octreotide and heparin to cause hyperkalemia. Regular monitoring of serum potassium concentrations should be done for patients receiving octreotide and heparin to avoid hyperkalemia. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 20:429-432, 1996)