bovis - Articles
Hypokalemia syndrome
Synonym(s): Hypokalaemia, potassium, ketosis, alkalosis, Isoflupedrone acetate
Introduction
- Cause: reduced potassium intake due to inappetence or anorexia coupled with concurrent (external or internal) losses; redistribution.
- Signs: muscle weakness, S-shaped neck position, gastrointestinal stasis, anorexia.
- Diagnosis: history, clinical signs, serum potassium concentration.
- Treatment: oral potassium supplementation, correct underlying disease process.
- Prognosis: dependant on cause.
Presenting signs
- Potassium depletion (reduced intake/increased loss):
- Early lactation (<60d) dairy cows.
- Calves with diarrhea.
- Cattle undergoing repeat treatment for chronic/recurring Ketosis Ketosis using isoflupedrone actetate.
- Cattle with underlying illness causing anorexia of several days’ duration or major abdominal illness, eg Abomasal displacement Abomasal displacement/torsion.
- Potassium redistribution:
- Cattle undergoing treatment for ketosis using dextrose and insulin.
- Alkalosis.
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- Decreased potassium intake alongside concurrent loss.
- Internal redistribution.
Pathophysiology
Potassium Sodium and potassium: overview is mostly intracellular. Serum potassium concentration is therefore a poor indicator of the potassium status of the animal.- The main source of potassium is the diet. Moderate hypokalemia is therefore common among cattle which have a reduced appetite or total anorexia, eg due to an underlying/pre-existing condition.
- Alone this hypokalemia is not generally associated with clinical signs. Combined with potassium loss, however, overt clinical hypokalemia can occur. Such losses might be caused by:
- Reduced gastrointestinal absorption, eg due to diarrhea.
- Increased renal excretion, eg due to:
- Mineralocorticoid effects of eg isoflupedrone actetate.
- Chronic renal failure.
- Post-urinary obstruction diuresis.
- Diuretic therapy.
- Potassium levels can also be relative rather than absolute, and hypokalemia caused by altered distribution of potassium across the intracellular and extracellular fluid spaces, eg due to:
- Alkalosis.
- Insulin therapy.
- The transmission of action potentials and therefore electrical signaling and muscular contractions are highly dependent on the resting membrane potential of cells. This, in turn, is dependent on the gradient between ICF and ECF potassium concentrations. This explains why, even in the absence of significant muscle necrosis, severe hypokalemia results in muscular weakness and cardiac electrical instability.
Diagnosis
Subscribe To View
This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.
Treatment
Subscribe To View
This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.
Prevention
Subscribe To View
This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.
Outcomes
Subscribe To View
This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.
Further Reading
Publications
Refereed Papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Trefz F M, Lorch A, Zitzl J, Kutschke A et al (2015) Risk factors for the development of hypokalaemic in neonatal diarrheic calves. J Vet Intern Medicine 29 (2), 688-695.
- Sattler N, Fecteau G (2014) Hypokalaemia syndrome in cattle. Veterinary Clinics North America: Food Animal Practice 30 (2), 351-7 PubMed.
- Constable P, Grünber W, Staufenbiel R & Stämpfi H R (2013) Clinicopathologic variables associated with hypokalemia in lactating dairy cows with abomasal displacement or volvulus. J Am Vet Med Assoc 42 (6) pp. 826-35.
- Sielman E S, Sweeey R W, Whitlock R H & Reams R Y (1997) Hypokalemia syndrome in dairy cows: 10 cases (1992-1996). JAVMA 210 (2), 240-3 PubMed.
Other sources of information
- Constable P D (2016) MSD veterinary manual: metabolic disorders: disorders of potassium metabolism: hypokalaemia in adult cattle. [online] Available from: www.msdvetmanual.com.