Annali italiani di medicina interna : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di medicina interna
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Hyperkalemia may occur in many clinical settings and lead to serious events. Heparin-induced hyperkalemia is presumably less well recognized than other untoward effects of heparin treatment and more frequent than commonly perceived. ⋯ Heparin-induced hyperkalemia is mediated by an enzymatic block in the synthesis of aldosterone; however, in most cases severe hyperkalemia occurs in the presence of additional factors influencing potassium homeostasis. Patients treated with heparin should be stratified and adequately monitored according to the outlined risk profile.