Pretreatment with beta-blockers and the frequency of hypokalemia in patients with acute chest pain

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Simpson, Elliott and Rodger, J. Christine and Raj, S. Mahendra and Wong, Chris and Wilkie, Laura and Robertson, Christopher (1987) Pretreatment with beta-blockers and the frequency of hypokalemia in patients with acute chest pain. British Heart Journal, 58 (5). pp. 499-504. ISSN 1468-201X (https://doi.org/10.1136/hrt.58.5.499)

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Abstract

Plasma potassium concentration was measured at admission in 1234 patients who presented with acute chest pain. One hundred and ninety five patients were on P blockers before admission. The potassium concentrations of patients admitted early (within four hours of onsetof symptoms) were compared with those admitted later (4-18 hours after onset of symptoms). There was a transient fall in plasma potassium concentrations in patients not pre-treated with , B blockers. This was not seen in patients who had been on P blockers before admission. Nonselective, B blockers were more effective than cardioselective agents in maintaining concentrationsof plasma potassium. These findings suggest a mechanism for the beneficial effects of ,B blockers on morbidity and mortality in acute myocardial infarction.

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