A 44-year-old woman is having symptoms of muscle weakness and fatigue. On examination, her blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg, pulse 80/min, JVP 4 cm, heart sounds normal, and lungs clear. Her serum potassium level is 2.5 mEq/L, bicarbonate 18 mEq/L, and anion gap is normal. The urine potassium is 40 mEq/L.For the above patient with hypokalemia, select the most likely diagnosis.
RTA types I and II cause hypokalemia with high potassium excretion (> 25 mmol/F) and a low bicarbonate in the absence of hypertension. Diabetic ketoacidosis can also result in this constellation of findings.
lower gastrointestinal (GI) losses
prior use of diuretics
RTA
current use of diuretics
Oncology