Life-threatening hyperkalemia following zoledronic acid infusion for Paget's disease: a case report
2011

Life-threatening Hyperkalemia After Zoledronic Acid for Paget's Disease

Sample size: 1 publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Panteliou Eleftheria, Young Neil, Naysmith Morag

Primary Institution: Intensive Care Unit, Department of Critical Care and Anaesthetics, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK

Hypothesis

Is hyperkalemia a potential side effect of zoledronic acid infusion in patients with Paget's disease?

Conclusion

The case highlights that persistent hyperkalemia and life-threatening arrhythmias can occur following zoledronic acid infusion.

Supporting Evidence

  • The patient developed hyperkalemia after his first zoledronic acid infusion.
  • He suffered a cardiac arrest 10 days post-infusion.
  • Persistent hyperkalemia required prolonged treatment.
  • All other causes of hyperkalemia were excluded.

Takeaway

A man got very sick after receiving a medicine for his bone disease, which caused high potassium levels in his blood and made his heart stop.

Methodology

Case report detailing the clinical course of an 80-year-old man after zoledronic acid infusion.

Limitations

Only one case is reported, limiting generalizability.

Participant Demographics

80-year-old Caucasian man with a history of ischemic heart disease.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1752-1947-5-367

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