The Potential Causes of Hyperkalemia in CKD Patients

The number one cause of hyperkalemia is usually homolysis or laboratory errors. In patients who have CKD and advanced CKD, that GFR is decreased significantly. And so you have fewer nephrons that can actually handle that potassium load. Crush injuries are a big cause as well. The body shifts potassium from the intracellular to the extracellular compartments. This is predominantly dependent on the sodium potassium ATPase pump.